7.6 The Average American: Data Collection and Analysis Friday, March 27, 2009

Data Collection Issues United States Census html html

Census Background Every ten years – required by the US Constitution Early 1600s - Virginia First US Census done in 1790 (4 million) under the direction of Thomas Jefferson, federal marshals traveled by horseback from town to town to count the U.S. population in each state. The newly formed U.S. government used this data to pay back the states for the expenses of the Revolutionary War The six inquiries in 1790 called for the name of the head of the family and the number of persons in each household of the following descriptions: Free White males of 16 years and upward (to assess the country's industrial and military potential), free White males under 16 years, free White females, all other free persons (by sex and color), and slaves

More History 1890 (63 million) Following its annexation in 1898, Hawaii (where the local government took a census every 6 years from 1866 through 1896) was included in the 1900 census, which also had the first count of the U.S. population abroad (Armed Forces and Government civilian employees, and their households) (248 million) 2000 (298 million) Determines Number of Congressional reps $185 billion in federal funds

More History In 1810, the census was expanded to obtain information on the manufacturing, quantity and value of products. In 1840, the census added questions on fisheries. In 1850, the census collected data on issues such as taxation, churches, pauperism and crime.

Census Jobs The Census Bureau employs nearly 12,000 people. The workforce expands dramatically when the census is taken every 10 years. About 860,000 temporary workers were hired for Census 2000.

Everyone? 1990 Census – Information was not reported for about 8 million people Information was reported twice for about 4 million people Undercount higher for minorities and young children Reasons for non-participation Afraid of or distrust of government Did not understand purpose and benefit Did not care Didn’t know it was required English

Who’s Included Next Census Day – April 1, 2010 Census Directions Include Foster children, roomers, or housemates People staying at your home on April 1 who have no other permanent place to stay People living at your home most of the time while working, even if they have another place to live

Who’s Not Included Do not Include: College students living away from home while attending college People in a correctional facility, nursing home or mental hospital Armed Forces personnel living somewhere else People who live or stay at another place most of the time

Private Information Federal law mandates that no one outside the Census Bureau can be given any information that would enable him or her to connect answers on the form with the name and address of the person who filled it out It is illegal for any information gathered to be shared with any other government agency (including IRS, FBI, INS, housing authorities, and federal or state welfare programs).

Secrets Census workers are sworn to secrecy before they are permitted to look at a completed census form Anyone who violates the oath faces a sizable fine and a prison term No information that can be traced to an individual is ever published Individual records are held confidential for 72 years

The Forms Short form and long form 83% receive the short form Short form 6 questions on race, gender, age, housing tenure Long form 34 topics (birthplace, language, home value, labor status, income, etc)

The Average American According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the average U.S. woman is 5' 3.7” tall and weighs 152 pounds The average American woman is tall enough for an astronaut (minimum height, 4' 10.5”) but falls short of the average Miss America winner (5' 6.5”) and is about the same height as the shortest president (James Madison, 5' 4). The average U.S. male stands 5' 9.1” tall and weighs 180 pounds

The Average American Average American generates four pounds of solid trash per day, for a grand total of 1,460 pounds per year According to a Bureau of Transportation Statistics press release, the average American spends 26.5 minutes a day driving to work The Agriculture Department says the average American eats 1,148 pounds of food a year.

Average American and TV The average person watches four hours of television per day. The average American student spends more time watching television than in the classroom. The average television viewer sees up to 20 acts of violence per hour. Lifelong television viewing habits can be established by age 3. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Psychological Association all agree that violence in the media is related to aggression in real life. On average, people see 30,000 television commercials each year. People who watch a lot of television read less than those who don't.

Average American Shopper Gallup poll finds the average American will spend $797 on gifts for his or her loved ones this Christmas. Six out of 10 Americans expect to spend at least $500 on gifts, while 28% plan to spend between $100 and $500. Nearly two out of three say this is about the same as the amount they spent last year, while 17% plan to spend more and 18% expect to spend less.

More Statistical Abstract of the United States

Bucknell Info Common Data Set This year’s set

National Survey of Student Engagement

Class Info Everyone complete the form ANONYMOUSLY DO NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTION YOU WOULD RATHER NOT ANSWER Results will be compiled

Questions 1. Class Section (1:00 or 2:00) 2. Gender 3. Weight 1. Below 90 lbs 2. Between 90 and 119 lbs 3. Between 120 and 149 lbs 4. Between 150 and 179 lbs or more pounds

Questions 4. Height 1. Below 4’6” 2. Between 4’6” and 4’11” 3. Between 5’ and 5’5” 4. Between 5’6” and 5’11” 5. 6’ and over 5. Favorite part of your own body 1. Hair 2. Face 3. Arms 4. Stomach 5. Legs 6. Other

Questions 6. How many siblings do you have? 1. None 2. 1 or or or 6 5. More than 6 7. How often do you call home on average? 1. Once every 2 months 2. Once a month 3. Twice a month 4. Once a week 5. Several times a week

Questions 8. How often do you do your laundry? 1. Every time you go home 2. Once a semester 3. Once a month 4. Twice a month 5. Once a week 9. How many hours do you sleep on average per night? 1. Less than 2 hours 2. Two or three hours 3. Four or five hours 4. Six or seven hours 5. More than seven hours

Questions 10. How many hours of athletic activities do you participate in per week? 1. Less than one hour 2. One or two hours 3. Three or four hours 4. Five or six hours 5. Seven or more hours 11. What is the average number of dates you go out on per month? 1. At most one 2. Two or three 3. Four or five 4. Six or seven 5. More than seven

Questions 12. When did you see your last movie in a movie theatre? 1. At least two months ago 2. A month ago 3. Three weeks ago 4. Two weeks ago 5. This past week 13. How many hours do you surf the Web per week? 1. At most one hour 2. Between 1 and 2 hours 3. Between 2 and 3 hours 4. Between 3 and 4 hours 5. More than 4 hours

Questions 14. What is the average number of messages that you receive per week? 15. How many hours do you study per week? 16. How many courses have you taken in college so far?

Questions 17. What do you plan to do after you graduate? 1. Pursue graduate studies 2. Attend a professional school 3. Find a job in business 4. Find a job not in business 18. How many people in this class do you find attractive?