179 – Combined Data (Surveys + Administrative Data, etc.)
Using the 2015 Census Test Evaluation Follow-up to Compare the Nonresponse Follow-up with Administrative Records
Mary H. Mulry
U.S. Census Bureau, Fort Worth, Texas
Tom Mule
U.S. Census Bureau
Brian Clark
U.S. Census Bureau
The U.S. Census Bureau conducted the 2015 Census Test as part of its research to develop methodology for using administrative records (ARs) to reduce the cost and improve the quality of the 2020 Census Nonresponse Followup (NRFU) data. The goal of the 2015 Census Test in Maricopa County, AZ was to test methodology and operations designed to reduce the NRFU workload. The 2015 Evaluation Followup (EFU) was part of the 2015 Census Test and collected additional data to allow a comparison of NRFU data with ARs available for the same addresses. The 2015 EFU analyses provide information about different uses of ARs that are topics of current research, such as determining occupancy status, enumerating a housing unit (HU), and providing data for imputation procedures. The 2015 EFU interviewed 5,000 HUs where there was a discrepancy between the NRFU results and the ARs. The evaluation of the quality of the NRFU responses and the AR file includes comparisons of the population count and the demographics of the persons listed in each source with 2015 EFU data. In addition, the study uses 2015 EFU results to assess the quality of the AR and NRFU data regarding HU occupancy status.