Responses to OMB Questions on the CCM Initial Housing Unit Followup Operation

September 10, 2009

Questions on the 2010 Census Coverage Measurement Initial Housing Unit Followup

1. Is there a results memo from the 2008 Initial Housing Unit Followup Operational Test conducted at the Dress Rehearsal sites? If so, please provide a copy.

Response

See the attached documents D-2-19.doc and D-2-19-AttA.doc.

2. OMB received two public comments with two specific suggestions in both letters related to this collection (see attached documents).

   1. Please provide responses to the suggestions that the Census Bureau modify Form D-1303 to capture more information on unlabeled units causing matching problems.

Response

To help prevent the CCM listing of 'unlabeled' units, the CCM Independent Listing Book- D-1302 already requests unit designation for each multi unit listed. There are strict quality assurance procedures in place to ensure each housing unit has a unit designation in a multi-unit building. Historically, unlabeled units do not cause matching problems in the CCM program. We have several detailed matching procedures in place to match units regardless of unit designation. Furthermore, for each unit going out for followup on the D-1303, unit designation is a requested field.

2. Both commenters requested that Census provide substate coverage estimates. Although Andrew Reamer requested these estimates for all areas provided in Census 2000, Joseph Salvo noted that at a minimum Census could provide these estimates for cities with sufficient sample sizes. Please address the feasibility of both suggestions.

Response

We will examine the results (net error and components) as they are produced and review them with regards to their statistical validity in terms of sampling error. We will also be identifying what estimates may be illuminating in regards to what, if any, census operations require modification. We expect this review to be guided by the results as they are generated to determine what level of estimates is appropriate.

3. The public comment from Andrew Reamer as well as comments from John Thompson and others at the CCM workshop have raised the issue of the schedule for implementing CCM. Please provide the latest schedule for key CCM milestones and explain how the Census Bureau is addressing the schedule concerns that have been raised.

Response

See the flowchart in the attached document (Schedule Highlights 7-1-2009.pdf) for a high level CCM operations schedule along with current status of each operation.

We considered starting person interviewing one to three weeks earlier and also considered whether a phone phase could be implemented to start six weeks in advance of the personal visit phase. The attached decision memorandum, “Decision Not to Move the Schedule for Conducting the Person Interview in the 2010 Census Coverage Measurement,” (2010DecisionMemo29.pdf) documents our decision not to revise the schedule and the reasoning behind that decision.

4. The terms of clearance for the 2010 Census Coverage Measurement Independent Listing Operation (OMB #0607-0951) required the Census Bureau to share with OMB the recommendations from the CCM workshop held in January and its plans to implement those it believes can and should be implemented. The Census Bureau has provided DSSD 2010 Census CCM Memo #33 on April 16, 2009, which did provide a summary of the recommendations with some indications of potential actions. However, it is not clear what the status is of some of the recommendations. The memo also notes that the Census Bureau would make a “register” of all ideas presented and track them over time. Please provide an update on the status and assessment of the recommendations and planned Census actions as well as a copy of the register.

Response

As noted, we are preparing a document that summarizes all recommendations provided during the workshop along with those provided by the CNSTAT Panel on Correlation Bias and Coverage Measurement in the 2010 Decennial Census along with the plans for pursuing them for 2010 production, 2010 evaluation, or 2020. This document is still in draft and undergoing review and will be provided as soon as it is available.