Planning for the 2020 Census is underway even as data from the 2010 Census are still being released. One particular area of interest is the use of the Internet for the 2020 Census as an alternative means for the public to respond to the census, which is expected to make the census more cost-effective and accurate. The 2010 Census Quality Survey was a census reinterview evaluation, using nearly identical content as the 2010 Census, with both a mailback and an Internet response component. The research was designed to be a first step in the 2020 Census Internet testing cycle.

A sample of 2010 Census mail respondents was selected and assigned to one of three Census Quality Survey panels, each with a different contact strategy approach:

1. Internet Push panel, where households were “pushed” into responding to the Census Quality Survey online, though nonrespondents received a paper questionnaire at the final mailing.
2. Internet/Mail Choice panel, where households had the option of responding online or by mail at each mailing.
3. Mail Only panel, where households were asked to respond only by mail, similar to the 2010 Census strategy.

The primary goal of the Census Quality Survey was to estimate and compare measurement error, using gross difference rates, between the paper and Internet response options. Other key goals included comparison of item nonresponse rates, household coverage analyses, and reporting various paradata measures from the Internet application (such as breakoff rates, help link usage, editing of answers, and other usability issues).