October 7, 2015

The U.S. Census Bureau has been exploring ways to streamline the American Community Survey (ACS) as described in the report, Agility in Action: A Snapshot of Enhancements to the American Community Survey. Over the last three months, we published the following five updates about this research.

Evaluating the Availability and Suitability of Other Data Sources

• In July we released our plan, Evaluating the Availability and Suitability of External Data Sources Use in the American Community Survey. This research focuses on identifying and using external data sources (administrative records) in place of information currently gathered through the ACS in order to minimize burden for ACS respondents.
• We also recently posted Preliminary Research for Replacing or Supplementing the Phone Service Question on the American Community Survey with Administrative Records, which describes the initial exploration of whether there are administrative record sources with data of sufficient coverage and quality that would allow for the removal of the ACS question about telephone service. 

Testing of ACS Mail Materials Messaging

• Early in September, we posted the preliminary results of our Envelope Mandatory Messaging Preliminary Report, which reviews the effects of the removal of the phrase “YOUR RESPONSE IS REQUIRED BY LAW” on the ACS mailing envelope.

Evaluating Methods to Ask Questions Less Frequently or of Fewer Respondents

• In late September, we released the report, Reducing Respondent Burden in the American Community Survey: a Feasibility Assessment of Methods to Ask Survey Questions Less Frequently or of Fewer Respondents, which examines the statistical and operational feasibility of several potential ACS design changes including:
  

1. Periodic Inclusion of questions on the ACS
2. Subsampling: customizing the questionnaire such that the sample for individual questions is reduced based on data needs
3. Matrix Sampling: dividing the ACS questionnaire into possible overlapping subsets of questions, and then administering these subsets to portions of the sample
4. Administrative Records Hybrid: using alternative data sources as a direct substitution for survey data collection, or in statistical models, potentially in a hybrid approach with survey data collection from some households.

2015 Data Products Survey for the ACS

In October, we plan to release the results of the 2015 Data Products Survey—an online survey to solicit feedback from ACS data users on their experiences accessing and using ACS data products, documentation, and the data tools.  The Executive Summary of the report is now available.

July 1, 2015

Agility in Action: A Snapshot of Enhancements to the American Community Survey

Building on new information gathered from the 2014 Content Review, the Census Bureau just released, on June 30th, a report outlining plans for research on survey improvements, including the following highlights: 

• Reducing Survey Burden
• Reducing Follow-Up Contact Attempts
• Adding User-Friendly Messages and Explanations of Why Questions are Included on the Survey
• Reducing Redundancy By Re-Using Information Respondents Have Already Provided the Government

Follow developments in these efforts via our newly launched webpage: Agility in Action.

OMB Approves 2016 Content Changes

Also on June 30th, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the Census Bureau’s proposal to make the following changes based on the 2014 ACS Content Review:

• Remove the question concerning business or medical office on property
• Retain the question concerning undergraduate field of degree
• Retain the questions concerning marital history

OMB also approved three additional changes resulting from late-breaking developments from the Census Bureau’s ongoing survey improvement research:

• Remove the question about flush toilets
• Reword the questions on computer and internet usage
• Streamline our mailing procedures

May 6, 2015

The Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA) at the Department of Commerce has released a new report titled   The Value of the American Community Survey: Smart Government, Competitive Businesses, and Informed Citizens.

In a blog post about the release, Under Secretary for Economic Affairs Mark Doms writes:

"Better data for better decisions. That's our mantra at ESA. And one of the best sources of data in an increasingly data-driven decision-making world is the American Community Survey.

Today, we released a new report titled The Value of the American Community Survey: Smart Government, Competitive Businesses, and Informed Citizens, which explores one of the Federal Government's most valuable statistical products.  The American Community Survey produces a wealth of data our country uses for a wide range of purposes, including helping direct the investment of over $400 billion in federal funding each year.  Community leaders use our data to analyze the evolving needs of their neighborhoods, to plan for the future, and to locate new schools, hospitals, police and fire departments.  And businesses rely on our data to make key marketing, site selection, and workforce decisions, to better serve customers and create jobs. 

The value of the ACS lies in its ability to provide comprehensive information for every community in America, no matter how small.  No other source of data offers what the ACS can: fresh, annual data on the country's changing demographics and socioeconomics.  Today's report shows us just how much the ACS makes our governments smarter, our businesses more competitive, and our people more informed."

March 2, 2015

The U.S. Census Bureau has proposed discontinuing the ACS 3-year estimates. If approved, the Census Bureau would not release the 2012-2014 ACS 3-year estimates, and the 3-year Public Use Microdata Sample files.

The Census Bureau will continue producing data for all communities, regardless of size, via the 5-year statistical product, the flagship dataset for the ACS program. We will also continue producing 1-year estimates for communities of 65,000.

More information is posted in 2014 Data Release.