SupportingStatement_PartB_final_2_11_15

SUPPORTING STATEMENT
U.S. Department of Commerce
U.S. Census Bureau
Annual Social and Economic Supplement
to the Current Population Survey
OMB Control Number xxxx-xxxx
Part B - Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods
Question 1. Universe and Respondent Selection
As discussed in Part A, Question 2 of the Supporting Statement, the main
objectives of this information collection are to (1) produce comparisons between
the 2015 Production ASEC and 2015 Parallel ASEC, and (2) have an estimate of
the level of change in the uninsured rate from 2013 to 2014 based on the
traditional ASEC design..
The sample selected for this collection is represented by a mix of continuing and
outgoing sample. Continuing sample are those addresses from the 2000 sample
design that continue to be in sample. Outgoing sample are those addresses that
are being phased out of sample. For this collection, approximately 21,000
addresses are from continuing sample, and 7,000 are from the outgoing sample.
The goal for this collection is to gain a response rate of 80 percent.
With respect to sample size, the Census Bureau determined that 28,000 addresses
would be sufficient to produce the required health insurance estimates at the
national level, and with a confidence interval of (+/-) 3.0 % or 0. 3 percent.
Power analysis was performed by staff at ASPE and the Council of Economic
Advisors and was confirmed by Census. The analysis showed that this sample
size would provide both a sufficient sample to detect differences between the
Parallel ASEC and the production ASEC; this is critical for assessing any break in
trend. See the power analysis prepared jointly by ASPE and the Council of
Economic Advisors (Attachment J) and the memo on sample size and power from
the Census Bureau (Attachment K).

Question 2. Procedures for Collecting Information
All interviews will be conducted by either personal visit or telephone interviewers,
by Census Bureau field representatives using laptop computers, or from one of
three telephone centers using desktop computers. Attachment B gives an
overview of the CPS sample, design, weighting methodology, and response rates.

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Responses to the data collection will be edited for consistency and imputed for
missing data using statistically scientific methods. Person, family, and household
data will be processed through a weighting procedure to represent the civilian
noninstitutional and armed forces members living in households with civilian
adults. The weighting procedure for this collection begins with a base weight
taking into consideration the geographic location, followed by adjustments for
noninterviews, and an adjustment to balance the number of sample hits in each
month-in-sample grouping. Then there are two rounds of ratio adjustments, which
include national and state coverage steps and a raking procedure.
Question 3. Methods to Maximize Response
All interviewers working on this data collection have experience in working on the
CPS and thus will have some familiarity with and skills at persuading respondents
to participate in the survey. In addition to this general experience, interviewers
will be trained in the content and purpose of the CPS Parallel ASEC, and they will
be given a set of responses to address common objections from respondents.
Specially-trained refusal conversion specialists are also assigned to aid in gaining
responses.
Some amount of allocation for item nonresponse is done within the ASEC
supplement for eligible people. Item nonresponse rates range from less than
2 percent for the work experience items to more than 15 percent for some of the
income items, such as interest and dividends. For households, the basic CPS
household-level nonresponse rate averages 11.5 percent. The household-level
nonresponse rate for the ASEC averages an additional 10.0 percent. These two
non-response rates lead to a combined supplement nonresponse rate of
approximately 20.0 percent.
Question 4. Tests of Procedures or Methods
In recent years, the CPS completed a series of methodological and questionnaire
tests; these are described in item 6 of Attachment B.

Question 5. Contacts for Statistical Aspects and Data Collection
The following individuals may be contacted on the statistical, data collection, and
analysis operations:

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Statistical Collection Operations:
Lisa A. Clement
Survey Director, Current Population and American Time Use Surveys
Office of the Associate Director for Demographic Programs
U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-8400
(301) 763-3806
Survey Content:
Edward J. Welniak, Jr.
Social, Economic, and Household Statistics Division
U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-8500
(301) 763-5533

List of Attachments:
A - ASEC Questionnaire
B - Overview of CPS Sample Design and Methodology
C - Source and Accuracy Statement
D - CPS-263(MIS-1)(L), CPS Respondent Letter
E - Confidentiality Brochure
F - CPS-580(ASEC)(L), ASEC Respondent Letter
G - CPS-580(L)SP, ASEC Respondent Letter in Spanish
H - CPS-676, "Changing Situation" Pamphlet
I - CPS-676(SP), "Changing Situation" Pamphlet in Spanish
J - ASPE sample size calculations
K – Census calculations on power