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Using the American Community Survey: Benefits and Challenges (2007)

Chapter: Index to Executive Summary and Chapters 1-7

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Suggested Citation:"Index to Executive Summary and Chapters 1-7." National Research Council. 2007. Using the American Community Survey: Benefits and Challenges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11901.
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Index to Executive Summary and Chapters 1-7

A

Academic research, uses of ACS in, 78, 121123

ACS. See American Community Survey

Administrative records, 95, 214

Aggregation of data

ACS calendar year, 17

concerns about ACS, 23

confidentiality and, 78, 177

five-year period estimates, 3, 114, 131

preparation for ACS implementation, 135

tabulation specifications for, 89, 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, 121123

federal fund allocations, 77, 8395

federal government, 77, 7980, 132

future opportunities, 7879, 137

legislative restrictions, 79

linkage with other survey instruments, 259260

local government uses, 78, 98117

mass media, 78, 123127

preparation for ACS implementation, 136

recommendations for research, 11, 260

sampling error estimation and, 7274

scope, 3, 7778

seasonal variation research, 257

small-area estimates, 113115, 255257

state fund allocations, 77, 9698

See also Transportation planning

Area studies

ACS release plan, 181

analyzing change over time, 3

for federal fund allocation, 8587

inflation adjustments, 179

interpreting ACS data, 132133

ART II, 183

Assisted housing programs, 8789, 9293

B

Boarding schools, 167, 258

Boundaries, geographic, 63, 137

Building permit data, 200

Bureau of Economic Analysis, 84

Suggested Citation:"Index to Executive Summary and Chapters 1-7." National Research Council. 2007. Using the American Community Survey: Benefits and Challenges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11901.
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C

C2SS. See Census 2000 Supplementary Survey

Categorizing variables for confidentiality, 173174

Census 2000 Supplementary Survey (C2SS)

implementation, 22

inflation adjustments, 61

long-form-sample estimates and, 19, 5153, 5861, 161

quality assurance, 57

response rate, 5457, 163

Census 2010

data collection, 14, 1920, 22

estimates of 2000 census and, 128

recommendations for Master Address File, 6, 151152

Census Bureau

education and outreach for ACS implementation, 229230, 233, 234, 235238

recommendations for, 411, 151152, 160, 163, 166167, 172173, 176177, 178, 180181, 182, 183, 196, 201, 214, 228, 236238, 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, 102113

multiyear estimates, 209210, 214221

public perception and understanding of ACS data, 124

recommendations for research, 5, 254

research needs, 251

use of ACS data, 51, 124125

Characteristics of ACS, 25, 184

addition of new questions, 79, 137

advantages, 2, 49, 7475, 83, 142, 214, 227

concerns, 2, 2324, 227228

confidentiality protections, 173176

content and reference periods, 3133

controls, housing and population, 154155

coverage errors, 5455, 56

data collection, 4042, 160161, 184185

data processing, 4349

data products, 4243

data quality, 5153, 57

design basics, 2930

housing unit sample design concerns, 152160

housing unit sampling frame, 153154

inflation adjustment, 179181

population coverage, 3031

quality control, 57

residence rules, 31, 163164

response patterns, 55, 163

sampling design and size, 3340, 51, 159160

sampling errors, 6374, 75, 122

tabulation specifications, 181182

vs. long-form sample, 13, 1314, 24, 33, 49, 125, 142, 152154, 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, 173174

negative effects, 177

one-year period population estimates, 203207

ongoing research needs for ACS implementation, 141142

rationale, 177

recommendations for research, 8, 178

rules, 177

College students, 171, 258

Community Address Updating System, 6, 148, 150151

Community Development Block Grants, 82, 86

Commuter workers, 164

Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy, 95

Computer-assisted personal interviewing

ACS data collection process, 161, 184185

data collection mode effects, 6, 161, 162, 163, 192193, 253

Suggested Citation:"Index to Executive Summary and Chapters 1-7." National Research Council. 2007. Using the American Community Survey: Benefits and Challenges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11901.
×

housing unit follow-up sampling, 147148, 155156, 158159

recommendations for research, 6, 159, 163

residence rules and, 164

sampling error, 6465

weighting of one-year period estimates, 192193

Computer-assisted telephone interviewing

ACS data collection process, 160161, 184185

data collection mode effects, 6, 161, 162, 163, 192193, 253

housing unit follow-up strategy, 147148

recommendations for research, 6, 163

residence rules and, 164

Confidence intervals, 64, 66, 74, 76

Confidentiality

in ACS quality profile outline, 244

ACS strategies, 4243, 173174

Census Bureau interviewers, 170

concerns about ACS, 174176

five-year period data, 120

month of data collection, 7, 174175, 176177

recommendations for research, 78, 176177

research needs, 252253

Continuous sampling approach, 2022, 29

Controls

ACS, 2, 17, 4748, 127

ACS quality profile, 244

for counties for specific population groups, 23

for coverage errors, 56

housing data, 9, 127128, 154155, 196201

margins of error, 9

for multiyear estimates, 213

population data, 127, 128, 154155, 250, 254

recommendations for research, 5, 9, 208, 254

urban area housing unit responses, 150

Costs

ACS, 18

long-form sampling, 1718, 1920

County-level ACS

controls for specific population groups, 23

family median income estimates, 8794

housing unit estimates, 198

housing unit sampling in rural areas, 151

per capita income estimates, 84

population estimates, 9, 202203, 208

weighting multiyear estimands, 213214, 222

Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement, 52, 83, 125, 126127, 171, 255256, 259

D

Data collection methodology

ACS, 2, 6, 4042, 184185

comparisons between studies, 125127, 244, 245, 251252

costs, 18

evolution of Census Bureau practice, 1516

group quarters, 167, 170

handheld devices, 1920

housing units, 160167

linkages among national survey

activities, 259260

methods panels review, 11, 247254

modes and mode effects, 6, 160163, 192193, 243244, 253

monitoring, 238

month of collection information, 7, 174175, 176177

paired strategy, 15, 1620

recommendation for research, 67, 163

research needs, 141, 253

transition to ACS, 1415, 2324, 135

Data swapping, 42, 173

Decennial census data

ACS data and, 78, 128129

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, 150151

Department of Housing and Urban Development, 8789, 94, 95

Disabilities, people with, 60

Dollar amounts

latest-year estimates, 179180

See also Inflation adjustments

Domestic violence shelters, 167

Suggested Citation:"Index to Executive Summary and Chapters 1-7." National Research Council. 2007. Using the American Community Survey: Benefits and Challenges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11901.
×

E

Editing procedures, ACS, 43

Education for ACS implementation

ACS interviewers, 2, 161

ACS staffing for, 10

media role, 235

organizational network for, 233234, 237

recommendations for, 10, 235238

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, 8095

classification of census data uses, 79

uses of ACS, 77, 7980, 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, 233234, 235238

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, 6263

confidentiality issues, 120, 175, 176

county-level median family incomes, 8889

data processing procedures, 4849

data release schedule, 14, 4950

housing unit sample size, 155

inflation adjustments, 93, 179

large city applications, 100

large city changes over time, 104114

margin of error, 130

mid-year estimands, 211

sampling design, 3640

sampling error, 6364, 74

small area studies, 3, 113115, 131132

standard error, 67

for state fund allocations, 9698

transportation planning applications, 120, 121

See also Multiyear estimates;

Period estimates

Follow-up

ACS data collection process, 2, 36, 40, 160161

costs, 18

housing unit sampling, 147148, 155156, 158159

long-form sample of 2000 census, 19

quality control, 57

Frequency of data release, 2, 14, 42, 4950

Funding

federal fund allocation based on census data, 8095

guidelines for ACS use for fund allocation, 132

hold-harmless provisions, 85

to increase precision in small area studies, 45

for methods panels, 11, 248

recommendations for, 4, 11, 228, 248

share estimating, 132

state fund allocation based on census data, 9498

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, 170172

definition, 167

institutional, 160, 167, 171, 172, 181

Master Address File, 167168

recommendations for research, 7, 172173

Suggested Citation:"Index to Executive Summary and Chapters 1-7." National Research Council. 2007. Using the American Community Survey: Benefits and Challenges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11901.
×

sampling strategy, 168169

tabulation specifications, 8, 181, 182

types of, 167

weighting of one-year period estimates, 185

H

Handheld devices, 1920

Head Start Program, 82

Health insurance coverage, 33, 256

Hold-harmless provision, 85

Home Investment Partnership Program, 82, 86

Homeless population, 3031

Household member characteristics

ACS sampling frame, 153154

confidentiality protections, 173

controls for multiyear estimates, 213

mode effects on responding and, 162163

weighting of one-year period estimates, 194195, 201207

See also Residence rules

Housing costs

guidelines for ACS data interpretation, 134

inflation adjustments, 8, 9394, 134, 179, 180

period estimates, 4

Housing units

ACS content and reference periods, 3133

affordability studies, 95

controls, 9, 127128, 154155, 194195, 196201

evaluation of ACS data products, 2324

initial sample development, 142147, 156159

Master Address File contents, 148

mean absolute percentage error of county estimates, 198199

mode of data collection, 160163

nonresponse follow-up sampling, 147148, 155156

number of rooms, 5960

ongoing research needs for ACS implementation, 141

part-time/temporary residences, 258

postcensal estimates, 9, 200, 201

recommendations for data collection and analysis, 67, 9, 151152, 159160

rural area Master Address File, 150151

sample design concerns, 152159

sample size, 155156

sampling frame, 153154

sampling operations, 2324, 142160

supply characteristics, 153, 154

tenure status, 59

urban area Master Address File, 149150

use of Master Address File for ACS sampling, 148152

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, 9394, 134

period estimates, 4

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, 1819, 48, 134, 209, 257

I

Immigrant populations. See Migration studies

Implementation of ACS, 2425

advisory group, 10, 237

agency preparations, 134135

challenges and opportunities, 4, 61, 227228, 229, 254255

costs, 18

data collection mode effects, 6, 161163, 192193, 243244, 253

data quality review, 9, 183

funding, 4, 228

housing unit sampling, 2324, 142160

network of organizations for, 233234

ongoing monitoring and research, 141142, 238

organizational support, 10, 233234, 237

origins and early development, 2022

ramp-up period, 134137

role of media, 235

Suggested Citation:"Index to Executive Summary and Chapters 1-7." National Research Council. 2007. Using the American Community Survey: Benefits and Challenges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11901.
×

significance of, 14, 227

user education and feedback, 5, 10, 11, 29, 79, 228, 229238

See also Applications of ACS data;

Interpretation of ACS data

Imputation, 5657, 126, 244, 254

Income studies

comparison of C2SS and 2000 long-form-sample results, 6061

comparisons between studies, 126127

county-level median estimates, 8794

for federal fund allocation, 84

group quarters data, 172

guidelines for ACS data interpretation, 134

inflation adjustments, 8, 9093, 134, 179, 180

nonsampling errors in, 131

per capita estimates, 84

period estimates, 4, 8990

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, 4347, 4849, 179

ACS quality profile, 244

in Census 2000 Supplementary Survey (C2SS), 61

geographic area-specific, 179

housing amounts, 8, 9394, 134

income studies, 8, 9093, 134, 179, 180

latest-year estimates and, 179180

public use microdata samples, 123

recommendations for, 8, 180181

research needs, 253

Institutional group quarters, 160, 167, 171, 172, 181

Interpretation of ACS data

cautions, 34

changes over time, 3, 51, 63, 215

comparisons with data from other sources, 4, 125127, 134

decennial census data and, 78

educational resources for, 231

guidelines, 130134

inflation adjustments, 8

margin of error considerations, 130

nonsampling error considerations, 130131

period estimates, 6163

population control errors, 9

user preparation for, 232

variation in weighting adjustments, 187

Interviewers

confidentiality rules, 170

data collection mode effects, 6, 161162, 192193, 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, 102113

availability of ACS data, 100102

definition, 99

uses of ACS data, 99113

Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 256

Local government

allocation of funds, 98117

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, 1618

allocation of federal funds based on, 8083

applications, 13, 16

costs, 1718, 1920

data collection procedures, 4042

disadvantages of paired strategy, 17, 1820

evolution of 1520

federal agency uses, 7980

follow-up, 19

group quarters data, 170171

historical and technical evolution, 1516

housing unit sampling, 152153

population controls, 207

Suggested Citation:"Index to Executive Summary and Chapters 1-7." National Research Council. 2007. Using the American Community Survey: Benefits and Challenges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11901.
×

residence rules, 31, 163

response rates, 20, 22

sampling design, 33

sampling error, 6364, 74

seasonal populations, 117

state government uses, 9495

timeliness of data release, 1819

transition to ACS, 1, 4, 14, 75, 232

transportation planning applications, 118

vs. ACS, 13, 1314, 24, 33, 49, 125, 142, 152154, 161, 227, 230, 232

vs. Census 2000 Supplementary Survey, 5861

M

Mail service

Delivery Sequence File, 6, 148, 149, 150151

undeliverable questionnaires, 150

Mandated uses, 79

Margins of error

ACS sampling, 2, 1011, 66, 76

computation, 240, 241

interpretation of ACS results, 130

large city multiyear studies, 102113

ninety percent, 64, 66, 74

one-year public use microdata samples, 119

public understanding, 124

public use microdata samples, 123

published, 239240

recommendations for research, 9

Marital history, 33

Maritime workers, 167

Master Address File

contents, 148

definition, 148

for group quarters, 167168

housing unit addresses, 200, 201

housing unit sampling for ACS, 142143, 148

linkage with other data sources, 214, 259, 260

maintenance costs, 1718

postcensal housing unit estimates and, 9, 201

recommendations for research, 5, 6, 9, 151152, 254

research needs, 141, 249250

rural area data, 150151

selection probabilities, 188

updating, 6, 148151

urban area data, 149150

weighting of one-year period estimates, 187188, 189190, 196197, 199201

Media

in ACS implementation, 136, 235

coverage of ACS, 235

uses of ACS, 78, 123127

Medicaid, 84

Methods panels, 11, 247254

Migration studies, 18, 121, 127, 201202, 258259

Military facilities, 170

Mode bias, 192193, 243244, 253

Month of data collection, 7, 174175, 176177

Monthly sample. See Tabulation month

Multiple residences, 258

Multiyear estimates

alternative estimands, 209, 210212

changes over time, 209210, 214221

concerns about ACS, 23

confidentiality effects on quality of data, 175176

large city studies, 102113

population change effects, 210, 221223

recommendations for research, 10, 214, 223

single-year estimands from, 210211

weighting, 10, 23, 209, 212214

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, 191193

Nonsampling errors, 3, 17, 51, 75, 130, 131, 228, 238239, 243244

Nursing homes, 167, 171, 172.

See also Institutional group quarters

Suggested Citation:"Index to Executive Summary and Chapters 1-7." National Research Council. 2007. Using the American Community Survey: Benefits and Challenges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11901.
×

O

Office of Management and Budget, U.S., 79

One-year period estimates

challenges in use of ACS data, 6162, 63

county-level median family incomes, 8889

data processing procedures, 4348

for federal fund allocations, 8485, 86

housing data, 155

large city applications, 100104

from multiyear data, 210211

population size cutoff, 89, 86, 100102, 181, 182, 184, 253

public use microdata samples, 122123

quality indicators, 10

sampling design, 3640

sampling error, 74, 132133

small area studies, 133

standard error, 67

for state fund allocations, 9698

transportation planning applications, 119

weighting. See Weighting of one-year period estimates

See also Period estimates

Origins of ACS, 2022, 117118

Oversampling

error risk, 64, 67

rationale, 36, 158

small jurisdiction applications, 36, 64, 113114, 158

P

Paired strategy, 15, 1620

Period estimates, 1

collapsing of cells for, 8

comparisons between studies, 126

county-level median family income estimates, 8990

for federal fund allocation, 87

guidelines for ACS data interpretation, 132, 133134

inflation adjustments, 4

labeling, 4, 133134

large city applications, 99102

recommendations for research, 910, 201

seasonal populations and, 115117

use of ACS data, 34, 6163, 75

See also Five-year period estimates;

Multiyear estimates;

One-year period estimates;

Three-year period estimates

Population studies

ACS universe, 3031

areas that have marked change, 10

comparisons between studies, 126

concerns about ACS, 23

controls, 4748, 127, 128, 154155, 201207, 250, 254

effects of population change in multiyear estimates, 210, 221223

for federal fund allocation, 8587

interpreting ACS data, 3, 132133

mean absolute percentage error of one-year period estimates, 202205

multiyear estimands, 213

one-year period population size cutoff, 181182, 184

one-year period population size weighting, 201207

opportunities for improvement, 258259

postcensal controls, 9

proportional estimates, 221222

rare populations, 258

recommendations for research, 9, 203, 254

research needs, 250, 258259

seasonal populations, 115117, 155, 221, 257

small populations in small jurisdictions, 114115

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

Suggested Citation:"Index to Executive Summary and Chapters 1-7." National Research Council. 2007. Using the American Community Survey: Benefits and Challenges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11901.
×

Prisons, 167, 168, 170, 171, 172.

See also Institutional group quarters

Private sector uses of census data, 16

Programmatic uses, 79

Proportional estimates, 221222

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, 174175

confidentiality strategies, 173

data quality monitoring, 239

definition, 4243

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, 4243

inflation adjustments, 123

large city, 100

margin of error, 123

research applications, 122123

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, 5153, 5861

comparisons between studies, 244, 245, 251252

concerns, 2324, 149151

confidentiality protections and, 174176

for federal fund allocations, 8485

group quarters data, 170172

Master Address File, 6, 149151, 200, 201, 249250

methods panels review, 11, 247254

ongoing monitoring, 228, 238

quality profile, 11, 242246

recommendations for research, 9, 1011, 183, 239, 246

R

Race/ethnicity

census race categories, 202

comparison of C2SS and 2000 long-form-sample results, 5859

confidentiality protections, 173174

one-year period population estimates, 202, 203, 204205, 207

responding behavior, 162, 163

Relative standard error. See Coefficient of variation

Replacement procedure, 185

Required uses, 79

Research

academic uses of ACS, 121123

ACS quality profile, 242246

comparisons between studies, 127, 251252

data collection methodology, 247248

income studies, ACS reference period effects on, 90

key areas, 25

Master Address File, 5, 6, 9, 151152

ongoing needs, 141142, 228

priorities, 248254

public use microdata samples, 122123

recommendations for, 58, 911, 151152, 163, 165167, 172173, 176177, 178, 183, 208, 214, 223, 228, 239, 248, 254, 260

residence rules, 5, 7, 165167

uses of ACS, 78

uses of Summary Files, 121, 122

Residence rules

ACS, 31, 163164

comparisons between studies, 126

long-form sample, 31, 163

recommendations for research, 5, 7, 165167, 254

Suggested Citation:"Index to Executive Summary and Chapters 1-7." National Research Council. 2007. Using the American Community Survey: Benefits and Challenges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11901.
×

research needs, 244, 251

seasonal populations and, 115

two-month rule, 163164, 166, 251

types of residences, 31

Respondent behavior

ACS, 55

Census 2000 Supplementary Survey, 5457

data collection mode effects, 6, 161162, 192193, 243244, 253

long form vs. short form, 20, 22

recommendations for research, 6, 7, 163, 166167

research needs, 247248

respondent characteristics and, 162163

Results of ACS

quality review, 183

release plan, 181

Rounding of weights, 195

Rural housing unit sampling, 150151

S

Samples/sampling

ACS design, 3340, 51

ACS error estimation, 1011, 6374, 75

ACS quality profile, 242246

analyzing trends over time, 3

comparisons between studies, 126

county-level median family income estimates, 8889

coverage errors, 5455, 56, 150

data collapsing to prevent error, 8, 177178

documentation of error, 74, 241242

evolution of Census Bureau practice, 1516

group quarters, 7, 168169

long-form housing unit sampling frame, 152153

monthly sample defined, 184185

nonresponse housing unit follow-up, 147148, 155156, 158159

one-year public use microdata samples, 119

published margins of error, 239240, 242

reallocation, 45

recommendations for research, 5, 151152, 159160, 254

research needs, 141, 249

size, 2, 5, 3336, 159160, 249, 254

small areas, 45, 36, 6465, 7576, 113, 159160

sources of error, 51

standard error computation, 240242

School district sampling, 158

School lunch data, 95

Season of data collection, 7, 257

Seasonal populations, 115117, 155, 175, 221

Sex distribution, mean absolute percentage

error of one-year period estimates, 204205

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, 113115, 255257

ACS user education, 229

aggregation of data, 89, 114, 182

evolution of Census Bureau data collection, 1516, 2022

five-year period estimates, 3, 113115, 131132

group quarters data, 171172

housing unit sampling, 36, 144146

initial housing unit sample, 156158

interpretation of ACS data, 3, 133

population change effects on multiyear estimates, 221223

population patterns, 113

recommendations for data collection and analysis, 45, 159160

sampling errors, 36, 6465, 7576, 113

small population estimates, 114115

weighting multiyear estimands, 213214

Small populations, 258

Soup kitchens, 167

Special Education Grants, 82, 8586

Standard error

ACS, 6366, 67, 7274

ACS quality profile, 243

computing sampling errors, 240242

estimates of change between multiyear periods, 218220

range of acceptability, 6772

research needs, 254

State Data Centers, 233, 234

Suggested Citation:"Index to Executive Summary and Chapters 1-7." National Research Council. 2007. Using the American Community Survey: Benefits and Challenges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11901.
×

State government

allocation of funds based on census data, 9498

uses of ACS, 77

Statistical Administrative Records System (e-StARS), 6, 152, 259

Summary Files, 121, 122

Summer camps, 167

T

Tabulation month

definition, 184185

variation in monthly response factor, 190191

Tabulation specifications, 89, 181182

Tax return data, 202

Taxes, property, inflation adjustments, 9394

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, 8889

data processing procedures, 4849

data release schedule, 14, 4950

for federal fund allocations, 86

housing amounts, 93

large city applications, 100102

population size cutoff, 86, 100102, 184, 253

sampling error, 74

small area studies, 133

standard error, 67

for state fund allocations, 9698

statistical subarea specification, 89, 182

See also Multiyear estimates;

Period estimates

Timeliness of data release, 2, 19, 49, 5051

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, 117118

uses of ACS, 78, 118121

Two-year period estimates, 209

U

Undeliverable mail questionnaires, 6, 150, 152

Undersampling, 64, 146

Universe, ACS, 3031, 181, 252

Urban area Master Address File, 149150

V

Vacant housing units, comparison of C2SS and 2000 long-form-sample results, 59

Variation in monthly response factor, 188191

Veterans with service-related disability, 33

W

Web site, ACS, 231

Weekend homes, 258

Weighting

ACS procedures, 4748, 49

ACS quality profile, 244

base weights, 47

comparisons between studies, 126

confidentiality protections, 175176

group quarters population estimates, 185

methods, 185

multiyear estimates, 10, 23, 209, 212214

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, 186188, 196

goals, 196

Suggested Citation:"Index to Executive Summary and Chapters 1-7." National Research Council. 2007. Using the American Community Survey: Benefits and Challenges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11901.
×

housing unit control factors, 194195, 196201

inverse selection probability weighting, 185, 186, 188

nine-step process, 185186

noninterview factors, 191193

population controls, 194, 201207

recommendations for review, 9, 196

rounding procedures, 195

supplemental sample, 189190

variation in monthly response factor, 188191

Workforce Investment Act, 82

Suggested Citation:"Index to Executive Summary and Chapters 1-7." National Research Council. 2007. Using the American Community Survey: Benefits and Challenges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11901.
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The American Community Survey (ACS) is a major new initiative from the U.S. Census Bureau designed to provide continuously updated information on the numbers and characteristics of the nation’s people and housing. It replaces the “long form” of the decennial census. Using the American Community Survey covers the basics of how the ACS design and operations differ from the long-form sample; using the ACS for such applications as formula allocation of federal and state funds, transportation planning, and public information; and challenges in working with ACS estimates that cover periods of 12, 36, or 60 months depending on the population size of an area.

This book also recommends priority areas for continued research and development by the U.S. Census Bureau to guide the evolution of the ACS, and provides detailed, comprehensive analysis and guidance for users in federal, state, and local government agencies, academia, and media.

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