1. Census Research Proposals
Katie Genadek, PhD
RMRDC Administrator
University of Colorado
IBS Room 423

2. Economic data Demographic data LEHD data Other surveys available
What data is this?
Economic data
Demographic data
LEHD data
Other surveys available

3. Who can be on a project in RMRDC?
Any faculty/researcher/scholar affiliated with CSU
Coauthors at different institutions
Graduate students
As research assistants
Own projects (advisor must be co-PI)
Undergraduate students

4. Process: Contact RDC Administrator with plan, get starter packet
Write first draft of proposal
Work with Administrator on refining proposal description
Work on PPS and Abstract
Submit to administrator – submit to Census
Once Approved - SSS

5. Proposal Package Proposal Description
Benefit to the Census Bureau (Predominate Purpose Statement/PPS)
Abstract

6. Components of Proposal Description:
Personnel and Time Frame
Project Description (scientific merit, methods, feasibility, why requires restricted data)
Dataset(s), Variables, Geography
Output research will produce
Results Expected and Disclosure Avoidance Strategies

7. Writing the proposal: perspective
The perspective of your proposal is driven toward the predominant purpose or “the Census Bureau benefit.”
Your audience includes mostly data experts
Your proposal is a request for data showing your project:
has 2 possible benefits to the Census Bureau
is feasible
emphasizes statistical models vs. tabular output
has scientific merit
clearly needs restricted use data
falls within the Census Bureau mandate
indicates an understanding of the appropriate disclosure avoidance protections

8. Proposal Description 15-25 pages Sections: Introduction
Background / Literature Review
Data & Methods
Output / Disclosure Risk
Papers needs to be thought out thoroughly during proposal process / before data are released
Timeline / Project Duration
Conclusion

9. Description Be clear about the importance of using restricted use data
Specify your exact sample for each analysis in paper
Research question, hypotheses, variables, expected outcome, models, sample information, how data will be linked
Describe empirical methodology, including equations
Clarify the relationship between your specifications and the data

10. Timeline of Project Often 3-5 years List of major milestones
When will you complete the matching of datasets, construction of extracts, etc.
How do you expect the project to unfold
When will you request disclosure
Extensions often not granted

11. Conclusion
“upon completion of the project.… we will include a report describing how the research project met Title 13, Chapter 5 requirement..
……We will also provide all programs, outputs, and findings to the Census Bureau and submit a technical paper to the Working Paper Series”

12. Benefits to the Census Bureau
Predominant Purpose Statement
Not a pro forma requirement
Legal basis on which researchers are allowed access to restricted use data
Must provide 2 benefits
Outline for PPS
Administrator will help

13. Benefits
1. Evaluating concepts and practices underlying Census Bureau statistical data collection and dissemination practices, including consideration of continued relevance and appropriateness of past Census Bureau procedures to changing economic and social circumstances; 2. Analyzing demographic and social or economic processes that affect Census Bureau programs, especially those that evaluate or hold promise of improving the quality of products issued by the Census Bureau; 3. Developing means of increasing the utility of Census Bureau data for analyzing public programs, public policy, and/or demographic, economic, or social conditions; and 4. Conducting or facilitating census and survey data collection, processing or dissemination, including through activities such as administrative support, information technology support, program oversight, or auditing under appropriate legal authority. 5. Understanding and/or improving the quality of data produced through a Title 13, Chapter 5 survey, census, or estimate; 6. Leading to new or improved methodology to collect, measure, or tabulate a Title 13, Chapter 5 survey, census, or estimate; 7. Enhancing the data collected in a Title 13, Chapter 5 survey or census. For example: improving imputations for non-response; developing links across time or entities for data gathered in censuses and surveys authorized by Title 13, Chapter 5; 8. Identifying the limitations of, or improving, the underlying Business Register, Master Address File, and industrial and geographical classification schemes used to collect the data; 9. Identifying shortcomings of current data, collection programs and/or documenting new data collection needs; 10. Constructing, verifying, or improving the sampling frame for a census or survey authorized under Title 13, Chapter; 11. Preparing estimates of population and characteristics of population as authorized under Title 13, Chapter 5; 12. Developing a methodology for estimating non-response to a census or survey authorized under Title 13, Chapter 5; 13. Developing statistical weights for a survey authorized under Title 13, Chapter 5.

14. Approval Process Step 1: Approval from RDC Administrator
Step 2: Census approval
Step 3: Sponsoring or other agency approval
Step 4: Background check and SSS

15. Background Check Off-line paperwork and documentation
On-line trainings and certifications
Background check
Submitted online and followed with interview
Residential history
Foreign travel
Education and employment history
References
Fingerprinting

16. Special Sworn Status
SSS is authorized by Title 13 U.S.C. 23 (c) "to assist the Bureau of the Census in performing the work authorized by this title.”
The Census Bureau may provide SSS to an individual
When an individual has expertise or specialized knowledge that can contribute to the accomplishment of Census Bureau projects or activities or engages in a joint project with the Census Bureau;
When an individual is employed by an agency/organization performing a service for the Census Bureau under contract or providing information to the Census Bureau for statistical purposes;
When Federal law requires an individual to audit, inspect, or investigate Census Bureau activities.

17. Timeline – Census Projects
Plan on 6 to 12 months from submission total
Census Approval (~3 months)
Possible other agency/state approval
Title 13 (Census approval only) vs. Title 26 (Census & IRS approval)
IRS Approval
1 month – 6 months
Other Agency Approval
State approval for LEHD
30 days
Once Census approved, start SSS (1-3+ months)

18. Helpful hints Know the data Have your data ready
Online metadata
Public data
Work with me
Have your data ready
Plan for your timeline
Colleagues and students – work together

19. How you can speed up the process:
Proposal takes the most amount of time – block off time
Work closely with local RDC on proposal development and on any requested revisions or clarifications
Providing the terms of use for any datasets they wish to bring to the lab.
Process Special Sworn Status (SSS) paperwork quickly.

20. Once in the Rocky Mountain RDC
Research conducted on site
Restricted area with badge access
No internet, phones or personal computers allowed in lab
No paper or output allowed outside of lab
Disclosure Avoidance review required to present results
Discussion of specific results allowed only inside RDC (even among co-authors)

21. Output / Disclosure Avoidance Review
No output can leave the RDC without review
Clear understanding of samples
No individual person or business can be identifiable in release
Performed by Administrator and the Center for Disclosure Avoidance Review
2-3 weeks (in general)
Intermediate output discouraged
Descriptive results may be problematic
Focus on statistical data for release

22. Completing papers and a project
At least one CES working paper
Report all working papers, presentations and publications to administrator annually
Write short annual report on progress
Write final report on project
Provide stated benefits to Census Bureau

23. Discussion papers, reference papers, data introductions
Business Register DeSalvo, Bethany, Frank Limehouse, and Shawn D. Klimek. “Documenting the Business Register and Related Economic Business Data.” US Census Bureau Center for Economic Studies Paper No. CES-WP (2016). Patents and Firms Graham, Stuart JH, et al. “Business Dynamics of Innovating Firms: Linking US Patents with Administrative Data on Workers and Firms.” Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business Research Paper 30 (2015). Kerr, William, and Shihe Fu. The Industry R & D Survey: Patent Database Link Project. Center for Economic Studies, US Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, An ‘Algorithmic Links with Probabilities’ Crosswalk for USPC and CPC Patent Classifications with an Application Towards Industrial Technology Composition The Longitudinal Business Database (LBD) Jarmin, Ron S., and Javier Miranda. “The longitudinal business database.” Available at SSRN (2002). Geography and Demography Davis, James C., and Brian P. Holly. “Regional analysis using Census Bureau microdata at the center for economic studies.” International Regional Science Review3 (2006): Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) Vilhuber, Lars, and Kevin McKinney. LEHD Infrastructure files in the Census RDC-Overview. No Goetz, Christopher, et al. The Promise and Potential of Linked Employer-Employee Data for Entrepreneurship Research. No. w National Bureau of Economic Research, Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs Foster, Lucia, and Patrice Norman. “The Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs: An Introduction.” US Census Bureau Center for Economic Studies Paper No. CES-WP (2015).

24. More Help? Contact the RMRDC Director and Administrator for:
data availability
project budget and timeline
contact information
For Census projects, the Administrator will give invaluable guidance on
the proposal development process
the benefits to Census (PPS)
help navigate the project approval process

25. Contact Information:
Katie Genadek:
Jani Little: