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Evaluation Studying the Effects from Changes Made to the Criteria for Assigning Sufficient Partial and Complete Outcome Codes to Group Quarters Interviews

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In 2006, the American Community Survey (ACS) began collecting data from the population living in group quarters (GQs). During the first few years of GQ data collection, the data were captured entirely through the use of paper questionnaires. Field representatives held face-to-face interviews with sample residents to collect data on paper questionnaires. When it was impossible for the FR to conduct a face-to-face interview, alternative procedures were necessary, such as telephone interviews; face-to-face proxy interviews (with a relative, legal guardian, or GQ contact person); or self-administered interviews (questionnaires were left with the sampled resident or GQ contact person for completion and then were pickup by the FR within 2 days). For more information on GQ data collection, see U.S. Census Bureau (2009). It is impossible to conduct a survey of this magnitude without the hard work of the FRs. The quality of the data produced is a direct result of the data obtained by the FRs. Therefore, it is important for the FRs to collect answers to as many items on the form as possible. After the data is collected, the FRs conduct an edit review of the questionnaires. They verify that the responses are legible and that the entries are appropriate according to the skip patterns on the questionnaire. They also assign an outcome code to the questionnaire to indicate whether the questionnaire is complete, incomplete, or sufficient partial. Sufficient partial is when a small set of basic demographic questions have been answered, while additional criteria must be met in order for an interview to be classified as complete. An incomplete is when the answers do not meet either the sufficient partial or complete criteria. Over the years, modifications have been made to the criteria for assigning the outcome codes without an assessment of the effect that the changes had on the data. This report is the first attempt to review the criteria changes and see the effects that these changes had on the data. The criteria changes studied in this report include those made in 2006 to the sufficient partial criteria and those made in 2008 to both the sufficient partial and complete interview criteria.

Page Last Revised - October 8, 2021
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