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The American Community Survey (ACS)

The American Community Survey (ACS). Lisa Neidert NPC Workshop : Analyzing Poverty and Socioeconomic Trends Using the American Community Survey June 22 – June 26, 2009. What is the ACS? . A large, continuous survey

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The American Community Survey (ACS)

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  1. The AmericanCommunity Survey (ACS) Lisa Neidert NPC Workshop: Analyzing Poverty and Socioeconomic Trends Using the American Community Survey June 22 – June 26, 2009

  2. What is the ACS? • A large, continuous survey • Produces single and multiyear estimates of the characteristics of the population and housing • Produces information for small areas including tracts, block groups and population subgroups • Key component of the decennial census program

  3. Origins of the ACS • More timely data • Operational reasons • Steadier funding • Year-round Interviewing • Skilled interviewers instead of temps • Strengthen Decennial Census • Improved census geography • Updated address files

  4. More timely data • Mariel Boat Lift • Natural disasters

  5. More timely data . . . • Communities • Populations

  6. ACS Implementation • Demonstration Period • 1996-2004

  7. ACS Implementation • Full implementation: 2005* • Every county nationwide • Products released in 2006 • Annual updated data products released every year thereafter *Did not include group quarters in 2005

  8. Data Release Timetable

  9. Sample Specifics • 3,000,000 addresses • 250,000 a month

  10. ACS Operations: Mixed Mode

  11. ACS Operations

  12. Combination of Modes:October 2006 sample panel

  13. Workloads and Costs by Mode

  14. ACS is mandatory

  15. Survey Response

  16. Distribution of Interview OutcomesVariation in Selected States

  17. Interpreting ACS data • Universe and Residence Rules • Time periods • Reference periods • Comparison Guidelines • http://www.census.gov/acs/www/UseData/compACS.htm • ACS Compass Products • Appendices

  18. ACS Universe • Total resident population of the United States • Group Quarters population added to the sample in 2006 • Example • Ann Arbor, MI, 2006: 112,371 • Ann Arbor, MI, 2005: 98,743 • Ann Arbor, MI, 2000: 114,024

  19. Residence Rules • Resident of the housing unit if: • Lives there year round • Lives there more than 2 months but not year round • Is living there now with no other place to live • Is away now for 2 months or less • Not a resident of the housing unit if: • Lives there 2 months or less with another residence • Is away now for more than 2 months

  20. Reference Periods • ACS uses the interview data as the single reference point, or as the end of a reference period, for all data collection • Interviewed in October 2006 • Earnings reference period: • October 1, 2005 – September 30, 2006

  21. Data Products: Annual • Tabular • Profiles • Narrative • Subject • Geographic Comparison • Ranking • Detailed

  22. Data Products Annual • Microdata • 1% • ~1,300,000 housing records • ~3,000,000 person records • Microdata are a sample of the ACS respondents • Approximately 65 of 100 • Confidentiality measure

  23. Data Products Multi-year • Combines 3 years worth of data, with a few modifications to the underlying data • Summary data • GQ population is estimated for 2005 • Geographic boundary changes reflected for all years • Microdata • Re-weight • Index income

  24. Data Products: Multi-year • 3-year: 2006 - 2008 • Release dates: August 2009+ • Multiyear Estimates Study • 5-year; 3-year; 1-year • For test communities only • 34 counties http://www.census.gov/acs/www/AdvMeth/Multi_Year_Estimates/overview.html#noteforusers

  25. Microdata vs Tabular • Census Bureau website emphasizes tabular data • via American FactFinder • FTP is interface to microdata • Exceptions • Workshop • Micro (65%) • Tabular (35%)

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