Recall Bias on Reporting a Move and Move Date

• Activity Number: 288
• Type: Topic Contributed
• Date/Time: Tuesday, July 31, 2012 : 8:30 AM to 12:20 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Survey Research Methods
• Author(s): Travis Pape*+ and Kyra M Linse and Lora Rosenberger and Graciela Contreras
• Companies: U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Census Bureau
• Keywords: Recall Bias ; Complex Living Situations ; Within Household Coverage ; Move Reporting ; Administrative Records

Abstract

The goal of the Census Coverage Measurement (CCM) for the 2010 Census was to measure the components of census coverage for omissions and erroneous enumerations. In two different CCM interviews, a roster of people living at the sample address as of Census Day (April 1, 2010) and their living situations are collected. Because these interviews were conducted five and ten months after Census Day, the interviews also collect information on people who move in and out of the sample address. One possible error in reporting the moves could be recall bias as the interviews get further and further from Census Day. This study focused on reporting moves around March or April. The control panel interviews were done around Census Day. Then we compared the percent of moves reported across three panels spread over a ten month time period to the original control panel. To target movers, we selected half of the sample from our Master Address File with the assistance of information from the National Change of Address (NCOA) file. As a secondary analysis, we also reviewed how well we could target possible mover households using the NCOA file as a tool.