. "Index to Executive Summary and Chapters 1-7." Using the American Community Survey: Benefits and Challenges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2007.
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Using the American Community Survey: Benefits and Challenges
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Using the American Community Survey: Benefits and Challenges
Index to Executive Summary and Chapters 1-7
A
Academic research, uses of ACS in, 78, 121–123
ACS. See American Community Survey
Administrative records, 95, 214
Aggregation of data
ACS calendar year, 17
concerns about ACS, 23
confidentiality and, 7–8, 177
five-year period estimates, 3, 114, 131
preparation for ACS implementation, 135
tabulation specifications for, 8–9, 182
American Community Survey. See Applications of ACS data;
Characteristics of ACS;
Implementation of ACS;
Interpretation of ACS data
American FactFinder, 232
Applications of ACS data
in academic settings, 78, 121–123
federal fund allocations, 77, 83–95
federal government, 77, 79–80, 132
future opportunities, 78–79, 137
legislative restrictions, 79
linkage with other survey instruments, 259–260
local government uses, 78, 98–117
mass media, 78, 123–127
preparation for ACS implementation, 136
recommendations for research, 11, 260
sampling error estimation and, 72–74
scope, 3, 77–78
seasonal variation research, 257
small-area estimates, 113–115, 255–257
state fund allocations, 77, 96–98
See also Transportation planning
Area studies
ACS release plan, 181
analyzing change over time, 3
for federal fund allocation, 85–87
inflation adjustments, 179
interpreting ACS data, 132–133
ART II, 183
Assisted housing programs, 87–89, 92–93
B
Boarding schools, 167, 258
Boundaries, geographic, 63, 137
Building permit data, 200
Bureau of Economic Analysis, 84
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C
C2SS. See Census 2000 Supplementary Survey
Categorizing variables for confidentiality, 173–174
Census 2000 Supplementary Survey (C2SS)
implementation, 22
inflation adjustments, 61
long-form-sample estimates and, 19, 51–53, 58–61, 161
quality assurance, 57
response rate, 54–57, 163
Census 2010
data collection, 14, 19–20, 22
estimates of 2000 census and, 128
recommendations for Master Address File, 6, 151–152
Census Bureau
education and outreach for ACS implementation, 229–230, 233, 234, 235–238
recommendations for, 4–11, 151–152, 160, 163, 166–167, 172–173, 176–177, 178, 180–181, 182, 183, 196, 201, 214, 228, 236–238, 239, 242, 246
transition to ACS, 79
Census Information Centers, 233
Census Transportation Planning Package, 118
Changes over time
interpreting ACS data, 3, 63, 132, 133
large city studies, 102–113
multiyear estimates, 209–210, 214–221
public perception and understanding of ACS data, 124
recommendations for research, 5, 254
research needs, 251
use of ACS data, 51, 124–125
Characteristics of ACS, 25, 184
addition of new questions, 79, 137
advantages, 2, 49, 74–75, 83, 142, 214, 227
concerns, 2, 23–24, 227–228
confidentiality protections, 173–176
content and reference periods, 31–33
controls, housing and population, 154–155
coverage errors, 54–55, 56
data collection, 40–42, 160–161, 184–185
data processing, 43–49
data products, 42–43
data quality, 51–53, 57
design basics, 29–30
housing unit sample design concerns, 152–160
housing unit sampling frame, 153–154
inflation adjustment, 179–181
population coverage, 30–31
quality control, 57
residence rules, 31, 163–164
response patterns, 55, 163
sampling design and size, 33–40, 51, 159–160
sampling errors, 63–74, 75, 122
tabulation specifications, 181–182
vs. long-form sample, 1–3, 13–14, 24, 33, 49, 125, 142, 152–154, 161, 227, 230, 232
See also Five-year period estimates;
One-year period estimates;
Three-year period estimates
Children, residence rules, 164
Coding procedures, 43
Coefficient of variation, 66
collapsing rules, 177
definition, 64
one-year public use microdata samples, 119
Collapsing of data
for confidentiality protection, 173–174
negative effects, 177
one-year period population estimates, 203–207
ongoing research needs for ACS implementation, 141–142
rationale, 177
recommendations for research, 8, 178
rules, 177
College students, 171, 258
Community Address Updating System, 6, 148, 150–151
Community Development Block Grants, 82, 86
Commuter workers, 164
Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy, 95
Computer-assisted personal interviewing
ACS data collection process, 161, 184–185
data collection mode effects, 6, 161, 162, 163, 192–193, 253
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housing unit follow-up sampling, 147–148, 155–156, 158–159
recommendations for research, 6, 159, 163
residence rules and, 164
sampling error, 64–65
weighting of one-year period estimates, 192–193
Computer-assisted telephone interviewing
ACS data collection process, 160–161, 184–185
data collection mode effects, 6, 161, 162, 163, 192–193, 253
housing unit follow-up strategy, 147–148
recommendations for research, 6, 163
residence rules and, 164
Confidence intervals, 64, 66, 74, 76
Confidentiality
in ACS quality profile outline, 244
ACS strategies, 42–43, 173–174
Census Bureau interviewers, 170
concerns about ACS, 174–176
five-year period data, 120
month of data collection, 7, 174–175, 176–177
recommendations for research, 7–8, 176–177
research needs, 252–253
Continuous sampling approach, 20–22, 29
Controls
ACS, 2, 17, 47–48, 127
ACS quality profile, 244
for counties for specific population groups, 23
for coverage errors, 56
housing data, 9, 127–128, 154–155, 196–201
margins of error, 9
for multiyear estimates, 213
population data, 127, 128, 154–155, 250, 254
recommendations for research, 5, 9, 208, 254
urban area housing unit responses, 150
Costs
ACS, 18
long-form sampling, 17–18, 19–20
County-level ACS
controls for specific population groups, 23
family median income estimates, 87–94
housing unit estimates, 198
housing unit sampling in rural areas, 151
per capita income estimates, 84
population estimates, 9, 202–203, 208
weighting multiyear estimands, 213–214, 222
Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement, 52, 83, 125, 126–127, 171, 255–256, 259
D
Data collection methodology
ACS, 2, 6, 40–42, 184–185
comparisons between studies, 125–127, 244, 245, 251–252
costs, 18
evolution of Census Bureau practice, 15–16
group quarters, 167, 170
handheld devices, 19–20
housing units, 160–167
linkages among national survey
activities, 259–260
methods panels review, 11, 247–254
modes and mode effects, 6, 160–163, 192–193, 243–244, 253
monitoring, 238
month of collection information, 7, 174–175, 176–177
paired strategy, 15, 16–20
recommendation for research, 6–7, 163
research needs, 141, 253
transition to ACS, 14–15, 23–24, 135
Data swapping, 42, 173
Decennial census data
ACS data and, 78, 128–129
residence rules, 31, 163, 201
summary files, 122
uses, 13, 15
See also Long-form sample of decennial census
Delivery Sequence File, 6, 148, 149, 150–151
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 87–89, 94, 95
Disabilities, people with, 60
Dollar amounts
latest-year estimates, 179–180
See also Inflation adjustments
Domestic violence shelters, 167
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E
Editing procedures, ACS, 43
Education for ACS implementation
ACS interviewers, 2, 161
ACS staffing for, 10
media role, 235
organizational network for, 233–234, 237
recommendations for, 10, 235–238
Educational attainment, field of bachelor’s degree, 33, 258
Eight-year period estimates, 209
Employment status
comparison of C2SS and 2000 long-form-sample results, 60
nonsampling errors in, 131
e-StARS. See Statistical Administrative Records System
Extreme weights, 195
F
Federal Agency Information Program, 233
Federal government
allocation of funds based on census data, 80–95
classification of census data uses, 79
uses of ACS, 77, 79–80, 132
uses of long-form sample, 79
Federal State Cooperative Program for Population Estimates, 233
Feedback from ACS users, 5, 10, 137, 228, 229, 230, 233–234, 235–238
Field interviews
ACS advantages, 2
ACS follow-up, 36
ACS margin of error and, 2
ACS procedure, 40
Master Address File verification, 6
See also Computer-assisted personal interviewing
Five-year period estimates
challenges in use of ACS data, 62–63
confidentiality issues, 120, 175, 176
county-level median family incomes, 88–89
data processing procedures, 48–49
data release schedule, 14, 49–50
housing unit sample size, 155
inflation adjustments, 93, 179
large city applications, 100
large city changes over time, 104–114
margin of error, 130
mid-year estimands, 211
sampling design, 36–40
sampling error, 63–64, 74
small area studies, 3, 113–115, 131–132
standard error, 67
for state fund allocations, 96–98
transportation planning applications, 120, 121
See also Multiyear estimates;
Period estimates
Follow-up
ACS data collection process, 2, 36, 40, 160–161
costs, 18
housing unit sampling, 147–148, 155–156, 158–159
long-form sample of 2000 census, 19
quality control, 57
Frequency of data release, 2, 14, 42, 49–50
Funding
federal fund allocation based on census data, 80–95
guidelines for ACS use for fund allocation, 132
hold-harmless provisions, 85
to increase precision in small area studies, 4–5
for methods panels, 11, 248
recommendations for, 4, 11, 228, 248
share estimating, 132
state fund allocation based on census data, 94–98
uses of census data, 16
See also Costs
G
Grant allocations, 82
Group quarters
ACS data collection methodology, 167, 170
ACS residence rules, 31
data collection concerns, 170–172
definition, 167
institutional, 160, 167, 171, 172, 181
Master Address File, 167–168
recommendations for research, 7, 172–173
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sampling strategy, 168–169
tabulation specifications, 8, 181, 182
types of, 167
weighting of one-year period estimates, 185
H
Handheld devices, 19–20
Head Start Program, 82
Health insurance coverage, 33, 256
Hold-harmless provision, 85
Home Investment Partnership Program, 82, 86
Homeless population, 30–31
Household member characteristics
ACS sampling frame, 153–154
confidentiality protections, 173
controls for multiyear estimates, 213
mode effects on responding and, 162–163
weighting of one-year period estimates, 194–195, 201–207
See also Residence rules
Housing costs
guidelines for ACS data interpretation, 134
inflation adjustments, 8, 93–94, 134, 179, 180
period estimates, 4
Housing units
ACS content and reference periods, 31–33
affordability studies, 95
controls, 9, 127–128, 154–155, 194–195, 196–201
evaluation of ACS data products, 23–24
initial sample development, 142–147, 156–159
Master Address File contents, 148
mean absolute percentage error of county estimates, 198–199
mode of data collection, 160–163
nonresponse follow-up sampling, 147–148, 155–156
number of rooms, 59–60
ongoing research needs for ACS implementation, 141
part-time/temporary residences, 258
postcensal estimates, 9, 200, 201
recommendations for data collection and analysis, 6–7, 9, 151–152, 159–160
rural area Master Address File, 150–151
sample design concerns, 152–159
sample size, 155–156
sampling frame, 153–154
sampling operations, 23–24, 142–160
supply characteristics, 153, 154
tenure status, 59
urban area Master Address File, 149–150
use of Master Address File for ACS sampling, 148–152
vacancy rates, 59
weighting of one-year period estimates.
See Weighting of one-year period estimates
weighting procedures, 47
See also Group quarters
Housing values
guidelines for ACS data interpretation, 134
inflation adjustments, 8, 93–94, 134
period estimates, 4
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, 18–19, 48, 134, 209, 257
I
Immigrant populations. See Migration studies
Implementation of ACS, 24–25
advisory group, 10, 237
agency preparations, 134–135
challenges and opportunities, 4, 61, 227–228, 229, 254–255
costs, 18
data collection mode effects, 6, 161–163, 192–193, 243–244, 253
data quality review, 9, 183
funding, 4, 228
housing unit sampling, 23–24, 142–160
network of organizations for, 233–234
ongoing monitoring and research, 141–142, 238
organizational support, 10, 233–234, 237
origins and early development, 20–22
ramp-up period, 134–137
role of media, 235
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significance of, 14, 227
user education and feedback, 5, 10, 11, 29, 79, 228, 229–238
See also Applications of ACS data;
Interpretation of ACS data
Imputation, 56–57, 126, 244, 254
Income studies
comparison of C2SS and 2000 long-form-sample results, 60–61
comparisons between studies, 126–127
county-level median estimates, 87–94
for federal fund allocation, 84
group quarters data, 172
guidelines for ACS data interpretation, 134
inflation adjustments, 8, 90–93, 134, 179, 180
nonsampling errors in, 131
per capita estimates, 84
period estimates, 4, 89–90
price change studies and, 92, 93
small area studies, 256
sources for median family estimates, 94
See also Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates
Inflation adjustments
ACS data interpretation, 134
ACS procedures, 4, 43–47, 48–49, 179
ACS quality profile, 244
in Census 2000 Supplementary Survey (C2SS), 61
geographic area-specific, 179
housing amounts, 8, 93–94, 134
income studies, 8, 90–93, 134, 179, 180
latest-year estimates and, 179–180
public use microdata samples, 123
recommendations for, 8, 180–181
research needs, 253
Institutional group quarters, 160, 167, 171, 172, 181
Interpretation of ACS data
cautions, 3–4
changes over time, 3, 51, 63, 215
comparisons with data from other sources, 4, 125–127, 134
decennial census data and, 78
educational resources for, 231
guidelines, 130–134
inflation adjustments, 8
margin of error considerations, 130
nonsampling error considerations, 130–131
period estimates, 61–63
population control errors, 9
user preparation for, 232
variation in weighting adjustments, 187
Interviewers
confidentiality rules, 170
data collection mode effects, 6, 161–162, 192–193, 253
education and training, 2, 161
See also Computer-assisted personal interviewing;
Computer-assisted telephone interviewing
Inverse selection probability weighting, 185, 186, 188
L
Large cities
analyzing changes over time, 102–113
availability of ACS data, 100–102
definition, 99
uses of ACS data, 99–113
Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 256
Local government
allocation of funds, 98–117
state fund allocation to, 95
uses of ACS, 78
See also County-level ACS;
Large cities;
Small areas and jurisdictions
Local Update of Census Addresses, 149, 150
Long-form sample of decennial census
academic applications, 121
advantages of paired strategy, 16–18
allocation of federal funds based on, 80–83
applications, 13, 16
costs, 17–18, 19–20
data collection procedures, 40–42
disadvantages of paired strategy, 17, 18–20
evolution of 15–20
federal agency uses, 79–80
follow-up, 19
group quarters data, 170–171
historical and technical evolution, 15–16
housing unit sampling, 152–153
population controls, 207
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residence rules, 31, 163
response rates, 20, 22
sampling design, 33
sampling error, 63–64, 74
seasonal populations, 117
state government uses, 94–95
timeliness of data release, 18–19
transition to ACS, 1, 4, 14, 75, 232
transportation planning applications, 118
vs. ACS, 1–3, 13–14, 24, 33, 49, 125, 142, 152–154, 161, 227, 230, 232
vs. Census 2000 Supplementary Survey, 58–61
M
Mail service
Delivery Sequence File, 6, 148, 149, 150–151
undeliverable questionnaires, 150
Mandated uses, 79
Margins of error
ACS sampling, 2, 10–11, 66, 76
computation, 240, 241
interpretation of ACS results, 130
large city multiyear studies, 102–113
ninety percent, 64, 66, 74
one-year public use microdata samples, 119
public understanding, 124
public use microdata samples, 123
published, 239–240
recommendations for research, 9
Marital history, 33
Maritime workers, 167
Master Address File
contents, 148
definition, 148
for group quarters, 167–168
housing unit addresses, 200, 201
housing unit sampling for ACS, 142–143, 148
linkage with other data sources, 214, 259, 260
maintenance costs, 17–18
postcensal housing unit estimates and, 9, 201
recommendations for research, 5, 6, 9, 151–152, 254
research needs, 141, 249–250
rural area data, 150–151
selection probabilities, 188
updating, 6, 148–151
urban area data, 149–150
weighting of one-year period estimates, 187–188, 189–190, 196–197, 199–201
Media
in ACS implementation, 136, 235
coverage of ACS, 235
uses of ACS, 78, 123–127
Medicaid, 84
Methods panels, 11, 247–254
Migration studies, 18, 121, 127, 201–202, 258–259
Military facilities, 170
Mode bias, 192–193, 243–244, 253
Month of data collection, 7, 174–175, 176–177
Monthly sample. See Tabulation month
Multiple residences, 258
Multiyear estimates
alternative estimands, 209, 210–212
changes over time, 209–210, 214–221
concerns about ACS, 23
confidentiality effects on quality of data, 175–176
large city studies, 102–113
population change effects, 210, 221–223
recommendations for research, 10, 214, 223
single-year estimands from, 210–211
weighting, 10, 23, 209, 212–214
See also Five-year period estimates;
Three-year period estimates
N
Natural disaster shelters, 167
Neighborhood sampling errors, 2
New Freedom Program, 82
No Child Left Behind Act, 83, 87
Noninterview adjustments, 191–193
Nonsampling errors, 3, 17, 51, 75, 130, 131, 228, 238–239, 243–244
Nursing homes, 167, 171, 172.
See also Institutional group quarters
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O
Office of Management and Budget, U.S., 79
One-year period estimates
challenges in use of ACS data, 61–62, 63
county-level median family incomes, 88–89
data processing procedures, 43–48
for federal fund allocations, 84–85, 86
housing data, 155
large city applications, 100–104
from multiyear data, 210–211
population size cutoff, 8–9, 86, 100–102, 181, 182, 184, 253
public use microdata samples, 122–123
quality indicators, 10
sampling design, 36–40
sampling error, 74, 132–133
small area studies, 133
standard error, 67
for state fund allocations, 96–98
transportation planning applications, 119
weighting. See Weighting of one-year period estimates
See also Period estimates
Origins of ACS, 20–22, 117–118
Oversampling
error risk, 64, 67
rationale, 36, 158
small jurisdiction applications, 36, 64, 113–114, 158
P
Paired strategy, 15, 16–20
Period estimates, 1
collapsing of cells for, 8
comparisons between studies, 126
county-level median family income estimates, 89–90
for federal fund allocation, 87
guidelines for ACS data interpretation, 132, 133–134
inflation adjustments, 4
labeling, 4, 133–134
large city applications, 99–102
recommendations for research, 9–10, 201
seasonal populations and, 115–117
use of ACS data, 3–4, 61–63, 75
See also Five-year period estimates;
Multiyear estimates;
One-year period estimates;
Three-year period estimates
Population studies
ACS universe, 30–31
areas that have marked change, 10
comparisons between studies, 126
concerns about ACS, 23
controls, 47–48, 127, 128, 154–155, 201–207, 250, 254
effects of population change in multiyear estimates, 210, 221–223
for federal fund allocation, 85–87
interpreting ACS data, 3, 132–133
mean absolute percentage error of one-year period estimates, 202–205
multiyear estimands, 213
one-year period population size cutoff, 181–182, 184
one-year period population size weighting, 201–207
opportunities for improvement, 258–259
postcensal controls, 9
proportional estimates, 221–222
rare populations, 258
recommendations for research, 9, 203, 254
research needs, 250, 258–259
seasonal populations, 115–117, 155, 221, 257
small populations in small jurisdictions, 114–115
tabulation specifications, 181
three-year period population size cutoff, 184
transportation planning applications, 118
See also Household member characteristics
Poverty estimates
ACS interpretation, 87
comparisons between different data sources, 125
inflation adjustments, 93
long-form sample, 95
period estimates, 87
See also Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates
Price change studies, 92, 93, 179
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Prisons, 167, 168, 170, 171, 172.
See also Institutional group quarters
Private sector uses of census data, 16
Programmatic uses, 79
Proportional estimates, 221–222
Proxy responses, 57
Public perception and understanding
conflicts between data sources, 125
media coverage of ACS, 235
media uses of ACS data, 124
preparation for ACS implementation, 136
Public use microdata areas
computing sampling errors, 241
confidentiality effects on quality of data, 174–175
confidentiality strategies, 173
data quality monitoring, 239
definition, 42–43
family income studies, 94
in small area studies, 133
statistical subarea specification, 182
transportation planning applications, 119, 120
Public use microdata samples
academic research applications, 121
confidentiality protection in, 42–43
inflation adjustments, 123
large city, 100
margin of error, 123
research applications, 122–123
for state fund allocation, 98
transportation planning applications, 118, 119, 121
Q
Quality assurance, 57, 183
Quality of data
ACS, 2, 51, 75
automated tools for reviewing, 5, 9, 183, 252, 254
collapsing rules and, 177
Community Address Updating System, 151
comparison of C2SS and 2000 long-form-sample results, 51–53, 58–61
comparisons between studies, 244, 245, 251–252
concerns, 23–24, 149–151
confidentiality protections and, 174–176
for federal fund allocations, 84–85
group quarters data, 170–172
Master Address File, 6, 149–151, 200, 201, 249–250
methods panels review, 11, 247–254
ongoing monitoring, 228, 238
quality profile, 11, 242–246
recommendations for research, 9, 10–11, 183, 239, 246
R
Race/ethnicity
census race categories, 202
comparison of C2SS and 2000 long-form-sample results, 58–59
confidentiality protections, 173–174
one-year period population estimates, 202, 203, 204–205, 207
responding behavior, 162, 163
Relative standard error. See Coefficient of variation
Replacement procedure, 185
Required uses, 79
Research
academic uses of ACS, 121–123
ACS quality profile, 242–246
comparisons between studies, 127, 251–252
data collection methodology, 247–248
income studies, ACS reference period effects on, 90
key areas, 25
Master Address File, 5, 6, 9, 151–152
ongoing needs, 141–142, 228
priorities, 248–254
public use microdata samples, 122–123
recommendations for, 5–8, 9–11, 151–152, 163, 165–167, 172–173, 176–177, 178, 183, 208, 214, 223, 228, 239, 248, 254, 260
residence rules, 5, 7, 165–167
uses of ACS, 78
uses of Summary Files, 121, 122
Residence rules
ACS, 31, 163–164
comparisons between studies, 126
long-form sample, 31, 163
recommendations for research, 5, 7, 165–167, 254
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research needs, 244, 251
seasonal populations and, 115
two-month rule, 163–164, 166, 251
types of residences, 31
Respondent behavior
ACS, 55
Census 2000 Supplementary Survey, 54–57
data collection mode effects, 6, 161–162, 192–193, 243–244, 253
long form vs. short form, 20, 22
recommendations for research, 6, 7, 163, 166–167
research needs, 247–248
respondent characteristics and, 162–163
Results of ACS
quality review, 183
release plan, 181
Rounding of weights, 195
Rural housing unit sampling, 150–151
S
Samples/sampling
ACS design, 33–40, 51
ACS error estimation, 10–11, 63–74, 75
ACS quality profile, 242–246
analyzing trends over time, 3
comparisons between studies, 126
county-level median family income estimates, 88–89
coverage errors, 54–55, 56, 150
data collapsing to prevent error, 8, 177–178
documentation of error, 74, 241–242
evolution of Census Bureau practice, 15–16
group quarters, 7, 168–169
long-form housing unit sampling frame, 152–153
monthly sample defined, 184–185
nonresponse housing unit follow-up, 147–148, 155–156, 158–159
one-year public use microdata samples, 119
published margins of error, 239–240, 242
reallocation, 4–5
recommendations for research, 5, 151–152, 159–160, 254
research needs, 141, 249
size, 2, 5, 33–36, 159–160, 249, 254
small areas, 4–5, 36, 64–65, 75–76, 113, 159–160
sources of error, 51
standard error computation, 240–242
School district sampling, 158
School lunch data, 95
Season of data collection, 7, 257
Seasonal populations, 115–117, 155, 175, 221
Sex distribution, mean absolute percentage
error of one-year period estimates, 204–205
Share estimating, 3, 132
Small Area Health Insurance Estimates, 256
Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 83, 84, 87, 98, 256
Small areas and jurisdictions
ACS applications, 113–115, 255–257
ACS user education, 229
aggregation of data, 8–9, 114, 182
evolution of Census Bureau data collection, 15–16, 20–22
five-year period estimates, 3, 113–115, 131–132
group quarters data, 171–172
housing unit sampling, 36, 144–146
initial housing unit sample, 156–158
interpretation of ACS data, 3, 133
population change effects on multiyear estimates, 221–223
population patterns, 113
recommendations for data collection and analysis, 4–5, 159–160
sampling errors, 36, 64–65, 75–76, 113
small population estimates, 114–115
weighting multiyear estimands, 213–214
Small populations, 258
Soup kitchens, 167
Special Education Grants, 82, 85–86
Standard error
ACS, 63–66, 67, 72–74
ACS quality profile, 243
computing sampling errors, 240–242
estimates of change between multiyear periods, 218–220
range of acceptability, 67–72
research needs, 254
State Data Centers, 233, 234
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State government
allocation of funds based on census data, 94–98
uses of ACS, 77
Statistical Administrative Records System (e-StARS), 6, 152, 259
Summary Files, 121, 122
Summer camps, 167
T
Tabulation month
definition, 184–185
variation in monthly response factor, 190–191
Tabulation specifications, 8–9, 181–182
Tax return data, 202
Taxes, property, inflation adjustments, 93–94
Tenure status, comparison of C2SS and 2000 long-form-sample results, 59
Three-year period estimates
challenges in use of ACS data, 62, 63
county-level median family incomes, 88–89
data processing procedures, 48–49
data release schedule, 14, 49–50
for federal fund allocations, 86
housing amounts, 93
large city applications, 100–102
population size cutoff, 86, 100–102, 184, 253
sampling error, 74
small area studies, 133
standard error, 67
for state fund allocations, 96–98
statistical subarea specification, 8–9, 182
See also Multiyear estimates;
Period estimates
Timeliness of data release, 2, 19, 49, 50–51
Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grants, 82
Top-coding, 174
Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing database, 148
Traffic analysis zones, 118, 120
Training data sets, 135
Transportation planning
confidentiality protections and release of data for, 176
evolution of ACS and, 117–118
uses of ACS, 78, 118–121
Two-year period estimates, 209
U
Undeliverable mail questionnaires, 6, 150, 152
Undersampling, 64, 146
Universe, ACS, 30–31, 181, 252
Urban area Master Address File, 149–150
V
Vacant housing units, comparison of C2SS and 2000 long-form-sample results, 59
Variation in monthly response factor, 188–191
Veterans with service-related disability, 33
W
Web site, ACS, 231
Weekend homes, 258
Weighting
ACS procedures, 47–48, 49
ACS quality profile, 244
base weights, 47
comparisons between studies, 126
confidentiality protections, 175–176
group quarters population estimates, 185
methods, 185
multiyear estimates, 10, 23, 209, 212–214
one-year period estimates. See Weighting of one-year period estimates
recommendations for research, 10, 214
research needs, 250, 253
urban area housing unit responses, 150
variation in ACS samples, 2
Weighting of one-year period estimates
adjustments for extreme weights, 195
base weights, 186–188, 196
goals, 196
OCR for page 330
Using the American Community Survey: Benefits and Challenges
housing unit control factors, 194–195, 196–201
inverse selection probability weighting, 185, 186, 188
nine-step process, 185–186
noninterview factors, 191–193
population controls, 194, 201–207
recommendations for review, 9, 196
rounding procedures, 195
supplemental sample, 189–190
variation in monthly response factor, 188–191
Workforce Investment Act, 82
