Measuring a Changing Nation Modern Methods for the 2000 Census (1999) / Chapter Skim
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5 Research and Experimentation and Data Collection During the Census
5 Research and Experimentation and Data Collection During the Census
Pages 86-96
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From page 86... ...
provide opportunities to improve census methods. Therefore, a cycle of experimentation and data collection during a census, followed by evaluation, further development, and experimentation and testing between censuses is very important.
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From page 87... ...
The long lead time from one census to the next can actually be beneficial for these changes, since the introduction of a major change to census methodology can have unintended effects on other parts of the census process, and understanding those effects can take a long time and a good deal of careful research. When unanticipated problems arise during a decennial census that require additional funds, field staff, or other resources, there is an understandable tendency to shift resources from research experimentation and data collection to solving immediate problems.
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From page 88... ...
Unfortunately, due to budget and time constraints, a master trace sample was not collected in 1990. As in 1990, in 2000 there will be pressures to reduce the number of research experiments, and associated data collection, undertaken during the decennial census.
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From page 89... ...
The second priority is experimentation. In the rest of this chapter we first discuss and assess proposed experiments and then data collection.
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From page 90... ...
Instead, the coverage improvement survey might be used only as a reconciliation survey, or the funds that are saved through discontinuation of the survey could be used to increase the size of the experimental area. Finally, this project provides an ideal opportunity to test triple-system estimation: one list would be the census; the second would be the merged administrative records list; and the third would be the integrated coverage measurement survey list.
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From page 91... ...
Targeted Enhancements to the Master Address File Seven national administrative records lists would be acquired merged, and unduplicated to produce a single database of addresses. The list would be used to update the master address file (MAF)
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From page 92... ...
In addition, use of a monetary incentive for what is a legally mandated requirement raises a concern about whether this experiment could be implemented as a regular part of a decennial census. Social Security Numbers, Privacy Attitudes, and Notification Experiment To evaluate the degree to which requests for Social Security numbers would be accepted by households, questionnaires would be mailed to a national sample of households to request this information.
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From page 93... ...
Collection of a Master Trace Sample The Census Bureau has designed an extremely innovative data collection system to be used during the 2000 census to provide decision support to all operational managers. The data are summarized to support decisions that need to be made in real time.
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From page 94... ...
The trace sample would provide information as to what happened in all phases of data collection, which will be instrumental in guiding methodological advances to be used in 2010 and beyond. Specific variables that could be included in the trace sample collection are as follows: · where the address came from (original master address list, local update, casing check, etc.~; · the type of questionnaire (long or short form)
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From page 95... ...
FINAL NOTE Our review of the Census Bureau's research and data collection plans was hampered without having the 2000 census evaluation plans. Because they have related objectives, plans for data collection, experimentation, and evaluation need to be considered jointly so that all important issues are covered and there is no unnecessary duplication.
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From page 96... ...
given We uncertainty gout overaH census plans and budgets for 2000' however' me reco~1ze why coordination of evaluation and research plans gas not possum. We hope mat future censuses can benefit Mom longer times for planning.
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