Assessment of Computer Availability and Internet Access Statistics to Improve the Planning Database's Low Response Score

• Activity Number: 469 - Using and Linking Administrative and Auxiliary Data
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Wednesday, July 31, 2019 : 8:30 AM to 10:20 AM
• Sponsor: Government Statistics Section
• Author(s): Luke Larsen* and Kathleen Kephart
• Companies: U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Census Bureau
• Keywords: Low Response Score; Planning Database; Internet access; multivariate linear regression; Census Bureau; computer access

Abstract

The Planning Database (PDB) contains tract- and block-group-level U.S. population and housing statistics from decennial census and American Community Survey (ACS) data. One of the chief PDB uses is field operations planning for survey projects. To that end, the PDB features a metric called the Low Response Score (LRS), which predicts self-response propensity at a tract and block-group level. The LRS is predicted by a linear regression model that uses the Census 2010 mail return rate as a dependent variable and independent variables from the PDB. Modern survey projects like the ACS and the 2020 Census feature an Internet response option, which was not available during Census 2010 and therefore is not considered in the current LRS model. However, for the first time, the 2019 PDB will include ACS self-response rates along with computer availability and Internet access data. This paper will leverage this new information to address two research questions: (1) Does the current LRS model sufficiently fit ACS self-response rates that include Internet mode, and (2) Are computer availability or Internet access viable candidates for inclusion as predictors in a post-2020 LRS model?