ACS Update and ACS 2006 Content Test Susan Schechter Chief, American Community Survey Office SDC/BIDC and FSCPE Joint Session March 26, 2007

2 FY07 Budget Update Budget includes full funding for conducting the ACS in the U.S. and Puerto Rico –Household data collection, processing, and data products –Group quarters data collection, processing, and data products –2007 Methods Panel Test

Methods Panel Test Evaluating questionnaire design (grid vs. sequential) Testing to reduce data collection costs Testing two versions of a new field of degree question

4 FY08 Budget Update Includes funding to support all FY07 activities, and also: –Training for field staff related to 2008 ACS content changes (questionnaires, phone, personal visit, and GQ instruments) –Production of three-year data products ( ) for all geographic areas with populations of 20,000 or greater –2008 Methods Panel Test

Methods Panel Focuses on tests to increase data collection efficiencies –Testing to increase response from non- English-speaking households –Testing to increase mail response rates in Puerto Rico

Methods Panel ACS test questionnaires were mailed to a sample of approx. 62,000 households in March 2006 Split-ballot design CAPI non-response follow-up and content re- interviews

7 Quality Measures Quality measures for each tested question or topic were determined in advance –Did the test version exceed the topic-specific selection criteria? –If test version “did no harm”, does ACS gain any operational benefits from using the test version? –If the test version “did no harm”, and ACS can realize only minimal operational benefits, does the test version address data uses or provide more detail not currently available?

8 Federal Agency Participation Interagency Committee for the ACS participated in the development of test questions Subcommittees were formed to look specifically at improving questions and response categories Evaluation approach and quality measures were described at various meetings and input was received

9 Proposed 2008 ACS Content Changes Short form items will be consistent with 2010 Census changes Other item changes will be based on the results of the 2006 ACS Content Test Three new questions may be added Seasonal Residence topic and Veteran Years of Service question will be deleted

ACS Content Test 8 housing topics were tested 12 detailed person topics were tested 3 new questions were tested –Health Insurance Coverage –Marital History –Veterans Service-connected Disability

11 Proposed 2008 Content Changes Housing Questions 8 topics were tested Proposed changes to 5 1)Year Built 2)Rooms and Bedrooms 3)Plumbing and Kitchen Facilities, Telephone Service 4)Food Stamp Benefit 5)Property Value

12 Plumbing and Kitchen Facilities, Telephone Service 2007 Content2008 Content

13 Proposed 2008 Content Changes Detailed Population Questions 12 topics were tested Proposed changes to 7 1)Citizenship 2)School Enrollment 3)Educational Attainment 4)Residence One Year Ago (Migration) 5)Disability 6)Employment Status Series 7)Weeks Worked

14 Disability 2007 Content2008 Content

15 Proposed 2008 Content Changes New Questions 3 topics were tested 1)Health Insurance Coverage 2)Veteran’s Service-connected Disability 3)Marital History

16 Health Insurance Coverage

17 Marital History

18 Veteran’s Service-connected Disability

ACS Content Test Results 2006 Content Test Report Series –Each report provides a full description of: The 2006 Content Test Topic-specific research objectives, methodology, and empirical results –Reports located at:

20 Decision and Implementation Process Federal Register Notice has been submitted Census Bureau will submit proposed 2008 ACS content to OMB by mid-May 2007 Final OMB approval expected by mid-July 2007 Implementation of changes: January 2008

21 Contact Information U.S. Census Bureau