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Abstract:
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The Household Pulse Survey (HPS), is an historic effort by the Census Bureau and partner agencies to design, collect, and release data to help the nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 23, 2020, we launched email and text message invitations to a nationally-representative sample for an online survey to measure social and economic impacts of COVID-19. In the first 12 rounds of collection, (Phase 1), from April 23–July 21, over one-million responses were collected to provide rapid-response data for the nation, states, and large metro areas. Phase 1 of the HPS asked about experiences in employment status, food security, housing, physical and mental health, access to health care, and educational disruption. For Phase 2 (August through October), the survey carried over most of the Phase 1 content, and included additional items on the application and receipt of benefits, spending patterns, post-secondary education disruptions, telework, travel, and other changes in response to the pandemic. This paper discusses methodological innovations behind the HPS, the decisions and changes for the quick launch of the survey thorough a second phase in the fall of 2020.
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