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Web Survey Bibliography

Title The 2013 Census Test: Piloting Methods to Reduce 2020 Census Costs
Source Survey Practice, 8, 6
Year 2016
Access date 29.02.2016
Full text pdf (576 KB)
Abstract The US Census Bureau spent nearly $1.6 billion obtaining information from households that did not self-respond to the 2010 Census. This paper discusses the 2013 Census Test, a study of 2,077 sample addresses in metropolitan Philadelphia that piloted the feasibility of three potential cost-saving methods to collect information from non-responding housing units. These methods included (1) using administrative records to determine housing unit occupancy status and enumerate occupied households, (2) using an adaptive approach to manage in-person contact attempts, and (3) attempting telephone contacts prior to in-person visits. Results showed we could implement new procedures in the field, although in-person interviewer compliance and the lack of telephone call productivity surfaced as issues. Findings will help the Census Bureau move toward decisions on how to conduct a 2020 Census with reduced cost and high quality data. More broadly, using administrative data in conjunction with an adaptive approach to survey data collection may help to address issues of nonresponse and rising costs facing the field.
Year of publication2015
Bibliographic typeJournal article
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