American Community Survey Methods Panel Tests

ICR 202106-0607-002

OMB: 0607-0936

Federal Form Document

Forms and Documents
Document
Name
Status
Supporting Statement B
2021-06-11
Supporting Statement A
2021-06-11
IC Document Collections
ICR Details
0607-0936 202106-0607-002
Received in OIRA 202012-0607-005
DOC/CENSUS
American Community Survey Methods Panel Tests
Revision of a currently approved collection   No
Regular 06/24/2021
  Requested Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved 08/31/2021
437,333 455,500
283,222 266,171
0 0

The American Community Survey (ACS) is an ongoing monthly survey that collects detailed housing and socioeconomic data from about 3.5 million addresses in the United States and about 36,000 addresses in Puerto Rico each year. The ACS also collects detailed socioeconomic data from about 195,000 residents living in Group Quarter (GQ) facilities in the United States and Puerto Rico. Resulting tabulations from this data collection are provided on a yearly basis. The ACS allows the Census Bureau to provide timely and relevant housing and socioeconomic statistics, even for low levels of geography. An ongoing data collection effort with an annual sample of this magnitude requires that the ACS continue research, testing, and evaluations aimed at improving data quality, reducing data collection costs, and improving the ACS questionnaire content and related data collection materials. The ACS Methods Panel is a research program designed to address and respond to survey issues and needs. As part of the Decennial Census Program, the ACS also provides an opportunity to research and test elements of survey data collection that relate to the decennial census. As such, the ACS Methods Panel can serve as a testbed for the decennial census. From 2021 to 2024, the ACS Methods Panel may test ACS and decennial census methods for reducing survey cost, addressing respondent burden, and improving survey response, data quality, and survey efficiencies. The ACS Methods Panel may also address other emerging needs of the programs. At this time, plans are in place to propose several tests related to self-response, group quarters, and nonresponse followup data collection operations. Tests may also be conducted to explore the use of administrative records. Because the ACS Methods Panel is designed to address emerging issues, we may propose additional testing as needed. Any testing would focus on methods for reducing data collection costs, improving data quality, improving the respondent experience, revising content, or testing new questions that have a need to be included in the Decennial Census Program.

US Code: 13 USC 141, 193, and 221
  
None

Not associated with rulemaking

  86 FR 8756 02/09/2021
86 FR 33215 06/24/2021
Yes

1
IC Title Form No. Form Name
ACS Methods Panel Test

  Total Request Previously Approved Change Due to New Statute Change Due to Agency Discretion Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses 437,333 455,500 0 -18,167 0 0
Annual Time Burden (Hours) 283,222 266,171 0 17,051 0 0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars) 0 0 0 0 0 0
Yes
Miscellaneous Actions
No
As an ongoing testing program, the ACS plans testing in 3-year increments in line with the OMB Clearance process. Testing proposed here is in reaction to emerging issues related to improving data quality, reducing data collection costs, and improving the ACS questionnaire content and related data collection materials. Changes in technology, emerging societal issues, and cutting-edge survey methodology necessitate testing to maintain the highest relevance for ACS survey estimates. Additionally, since the ACS Methods Panel can serve as a testbed for the decennial census, census methods that showed promise in the 2020 Census but could not be fully evaluated due to Census environment constraints are good candidates for ACS Methods Panel testing from 2021 to 2024. The agility of this ongoing testing program benefits the larger field of survey methodology, as well as contributing specifically to reducing survey cost, addressing data collection efficiencies, and improving data quality for the ACS and decennial census.

$4,000,000
Yes Part B of Supporting Statement
    Yes
    Yes
No
No
No
No
Robin Pennington 301 763-8132 robin.a.pennington@census.gov

  No

On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    (i) Why the information is being collected;
    (ii) Use of information;
    (iii) Burden estimate;
    (iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
    (v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
    (vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
 
 
 
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
06/24/2021


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