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The Role of Sociolinguistics in Federal Survey Development
The Role of Sociolinguistics in Federal Survey Development
RSM2007-01
Introduction
With the ever-increasing linguistic and cultural diversity in the United States, the Census Bureau is facing the need to obtain high quality data from non-English speaking households. In Census 2000, the Census Bureau recognized the necessity for data collection instruments in languages other than English and provided the translation of the census questionnaire in five languages other than English. However, obtaining high quality data from households where English is not the home language requires more than just having a correctly translated data collection instrument. It requires the understanding of respondents’ cultural expectations in communication and behavioral norms so that we can better communicate with respondents and gain their cooperation.
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Page Last Revised - October 8, 2021
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