Demographic and Attitudinal Predictors of Respondent Reactions to Using Administrative Records

• Activity Number: 413
• Type: Topic Contributed
• Date/Time: Tuesday, August 11, 2015 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
• Sponsor: Social Statistics Section
• Author(s): Jennifer Childs* and Gina Walejko and Casey Eggleston
• Companies: U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Census Bureau
• Keywords: administrative records ; opinion ; trust ; federal statistics ; communications ; attitudes

Abstract

Since 2012, the Census Bureau has contracted with the Gallup Organization to collect nightly survey responses measuring U.S. adults' trust in the Federal Statistical System as well as opinions about important issues facing the FSS, such as the use of administrative records. By analyzing data collected via the Gallup Nightly Poll, we predict favor for the use of administrative records using demographic variables as well as variables that examine specific attitudes towards Federal Statistical Agencies and products. Generally, greater trust in federal statistics is associated with increased favorability toward the use of administrative records. Influential demographic variables include income (including willingness to report income), education, gender, and race/ethnicity. The impact of different predictors varies depending on the specific record use scenario under consideration, suggesting that attitudes toward administrative record use may be complex. Based on these results, we propose communications strategies for presenting to the public how administrative records will be used in various contexts.