Using the American Community Survey

by Citro, Constance F.; Kalton, Graham

• ISBN13: 9780309106726
• ISBN10: 0309106729
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-09-01
• Publisher: Natl Academy Pr

Summary

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 nationrs"s people and housing. It replaces the "long form" of the decennial census. Using the American Community Surveycovers 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.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary	p. 1
Introduction	p. 13
Panel Charge	p. 14
Historical Background	p. 15
Evolution of the Long-Form Sample	p. 15
Why Seek an Alternative to the Long-Form Sample?	p. 16
Evolution of the ACS	p. 20
Issues for the Panel	p. 23
Overview of the Report	p. 24
Using the American Community Survey
Essentials for Users	p. 29
ACS Design Basics	p. 29
Population Coverage (Universe)	p. 30
Residence Rules	p. 31
Content and Reference Periods	p. 31
Sample Design and Size	p. 33
Data Collection	p. 40
Data Products	p. 42
Data Processing-1-Year Period Estimates	p. 43
Data Processing-3-Year and 5-Year Period Estimates	p. 48
ACS Benefits	p. 49
Timeliness and Frequency	p. 49
Data Quality	p. 51
ACS Challenges	p. 61
Period Estimates	p. 61
Sampling Error	p. 63
Summary Assessment	p. 74
Working with the ACS: Guidance for Users	p. 77
Federal Agency Uses	p. 79
Allocation of Federal Funds	p. 80
Determination of Median Incomes for Counties	p. 87
State Agency Uses	p. 94
Allocating State Funds to Localities	p. 95
Strategies for Using ACS Data in State Fund Allocations	p. 96
Example of a Simple Updating Procedure	p. 96
Local Government Uses	p. 98
Large City Applications of the ACS	p. 99
Small Jurisdiction Applications of the ACS	p. 113
Special Case of Seasonal Populations	p. 115
Transportation Planning Uses	p. 117
Using the ACS 1-Year PUMS Files	p. 119
Using the ACS TAZ Data	p. 120
Conclusion on Using the ACS for Transportation Planning	p. 121
Academic Research Uses	p. 121
Using Summary Files for Research	p. 122
Using PUMS Files for Research	p. 122
Media and General Public Uses	p. 123
Using ACS Profiles and Rankings	p. 124
Comparisons with Other Data Sources	p. 125
What Happens in a Decennial Year?	p. 127
Preparing to Use the ACS	p. 130
General Guidelines for ACS Use	p. 130
Suggestions for Users During the Ramp-up Period	p. 134
Technical Issues
Sample Design and Survey Operations	p. 141
Sampling Operations for Housing Units	p. 142
Developing the Initial Sample	p. 142
Initial Sampling Rates	p. 144
Subsampling for CAPI Follow-up	p. 147
MAF Concerns and Recommendations	p. 148
Sample Design Concerns	p. 152
Data Collection for Housing Units	p. 160
Mode of Collection	p. 160
Residence Rules	p. 163
Group Quarters Sampling and Data Collection	p. 167
Group Quarters and the MAF	p. 167
Sample Design for Group Quarters	p. 168
Data Collection for Group Quarters	p. 170
Concerns About Group Quarters	p. 170
Recommendation for Group Quarters	p. 172
Data Preparation	p. 173
Confidentiality Protection	p. 173
Collapsing Tables for Large Sampling Errors	p. 177
Inflation Adjustments	p. 179
Tabulation Specifications	p. 181
Data Quality Review	p. 183
The Weighting of ACS 1-Year Period Estimates	p. 184
Overview	p. 184
The 1-Year Nine-Step Weighting Process	p. 186
Base Weights	p. 187
Variation in Monthly Response Factor	p. 188
Noninterview Factors 1 and 2	p. 191
Mode Bias Noninterview Factor	p. 192
Housing Unit Control Factor 1	p. 194
Population Control Factor	p. 194
Housing Unit Control Factor 2	p. 194
Adjustments to Eliminate Extreme Weights	p. 195
Rounding of Weights	p. 195
Recommendation	p. 196
Housing Unit Controls	p. 196
Population Controls	p. 201
Weighting and Interpreting ACS Multiyear Estimates	p. 209
Alternative Estimands from Multiyear Data	p. 210
Single-Year Estimands from Multiyear Data	p. 210
Multiyear Period Estimand from Multiyear Data	p. 211
Multiyear Period Estimation	p. 212
Estimation of Change Over Time	p. 214
Interpreting Estimates of Change Between Multiyear Period Estimates	p. 215
Precision of Estimates of Change Between Multiyear Period Estimates	p. 218
Conclusions	p. 220
Effects of Changes in Population Size and Characteristics	p. 221
Education, Outreach, and Future Development
Important Next Steps	p. 227
Educating Data Users About the ACS	p. 229
Key Elements of the Education Strategy	p. 230
Providing a Foundation for the Basics	p. 231
Building a Network for Education, Outreach, and Feedback	p. 233
Working with the Media	p. 235
Recommendations on User Education, Outreach, and Feedback	p. 235
Data Quality Monitoring	p. 238
Nonsampling Error Measures	p. 238
Sampling Errors	p. 239
Priorities for Assessment and Improvement of Survey Quality	p. 242
Quality Profile	p. 242
Methods Panels	p. 247
The Panel's Priorities for Assessment	p. 248
A Vision for the Future	p. 254
Small-Area Estimates	p. 255
Seasonal and Multiple Residences	p. 257
Surveying Rare Populations	p. 258
Improving Population Estimates	p. 258
Improving Survey Estimates	p. 259
Recommendation for Future Research and Development	p. 260
References	p. 261
Appendixes
Acronyms and Abbreviations	p. 267
Controlling the American Community Survey to Postcensal Population Estimates	p. 269
Alternatives to the Multiyear Period Estimation Strategy for the American Community Survey	p. 290
Biographical Sketches of Panel Members and Staff	p. 313
Index to Executive Summary and Chapters 1-7	p. 319
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