How the U.S. Census Bureau's Redesign of Household Survey Sampling Impacts Field and Clerical Operations

• Activity Number: 498
• Type: Topic Contributed
• Date/Time: Wednesday, August 3, 2011 : 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Survey Research Methods
• Author(s): Alex Winstead*+ and Rose Byrne and Scott M. Harclerode and Chris Kuwik
• Companies: U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Census Bureau
• Keywords: sample redesign ; locating sample units ; household surveys ; field operations ; group quarters ; survey sample

Abstract

Every 10 years the US Census Bureau uses the results from the Decennial Census to update the sample used for many of the household surveys, including CPS, SIPP, NCVS, NHIS, CE and AHS. Sample Redesigns provide an opportunity to improve operational instructions, improve coverage, and implement new technology. This paper discusses the improvements and changes to the existing processes used by the Regional Offices, Headquarters support staff, and the clerical operations supported by the US Census' National Processing Center.

As a result of the 2010 Address Canvassing, a majority of household addresses in the country now have GPS coordinates. Additionally, the last decade has provided near universal access to technological tools such as online mapping software and personal navigation devices. Combining these advances can radically change how the Regional Offices locate difficult addresses. The introduction of operations to mitigate possible undercoverage (particularly for new construction group quarters) will also be discussed.