Survey on the Display of Sampling Error in American Comm

Web Page 1:

Survey on the Display of Sampling Error
in American Community Survey (ACS) Data Products
March 2008

The U.S. Census Bureau is conducting a study for two purposes:
To obtain information about the use of the measure of sampling error we present with
American Community Survey (ACS) estimates
To gain insight into ACS data users' preference, if any, for a particular measure of
sampling error
The results of this survey will aid the Census Bureau in determining the measure(s) of
sampling error to provide with the ACS data tables.
We estimate that the survey should require 10 minutes of your time. Your answers will
only be used to help us make informed decisions about possible revisions to the way we
display sampling error. Your responses are voluntary, and we ensure your confidentiality
under the provision of Title 13 USC Section 9.
We will report findings in summary form only. Findings will be posted when available on
the U.S. Census Bureau's Web site at:
http://www.census.gov/mso/www/npr/mktbrfs.html.
The Office of Management and Budget approval number for this survey is 0607-0760.
Without this number we could not conduct this survey or ask for your participation.
Approval expires November 30, 2010.
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Web Page 2:

Survey on the Display of Sampling Error
in American Community Survey (ACS) Data Products
March 2008
Completed

1. In what capacity do you use American Community Survey (ACS) data? (Check all that
apply).
State/local government employee
Census Bureau employee
Other federal employee
Contractor
Student
Journalist
Businessperson
Academic researcher
Other, please specify:

2. How often do you use ACS data products? (Select only one).
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Less than once a month

3. Which ACS data products do you use? (Check all that apply).
Data Profiles
Selected Population Profiles
Ranking Tables
Subject Tables
Detailed Tables
Geographic Comparison Tables
Thematic Maps
Other, please specify:

4. What level of statistics courses have you completed?
No statistics course(s) completed
Introductory statistics course(s) only
Advanced undergraduate/beginning graduate level statistics courses only
Advanced graduate level statistics courses

5. Please rate your level of expertise with statistics.
N Novice (just beginning to use statistics or rarely use them)
InIntermediate (moderate experience with statistics)
Expert (a great deal of experience with and/or frequent use of statistics)

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Web Page 3:

Survey on the Display of Sampling Error
in American Community Survey (ACS) Data Products
March 2008
Completed

Estimates of sampling error, such as the margin of error and confidence intervals, are
provided with all published ACS data.
6. For what purposes do you use estimates of sampling error? (Check all that apply).
Do not use sampling error
To get a general sense of the data
To make comparisons
To look for statistically significant differences
To publish sampling error
Other, please specify:

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Web Page 4:

Survey on the Display of Sampling Error
in American Community Survey (ACS) Data Products
March 2008
Completed

Imagine that for your job you are writing a report about young people and find
two relevant ACS Data Tables.

7. Which of these tables did you find easier to use for your job?
Table 1 (with margin of error displayed)
Table 2 (with confidence intervals displayed)

8. Why do you find this table easier to use?

9. Is there any other information that would be useful to you?
Yes
No

If yes, please elaborate.

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Web Page 5:

Survey on the Display of Sampling Error
in American Community Survey (ACS) Data Products
March 2008
Completed

10. For your job, which measures of sampling error are useful to you when working with
ACS data? (Check all that apply).
Confidence limits
Margin of error
Standard error
Coefficient of variation
Other, please specify:

11. Based on your experience using ACS products, please give any other comments you
have about how sampling error is presented?

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Web Page 6:

Survey on the Display of Sampling Error
in American Community Survey (ACS) Data Products
March 2008

Thank you for taking the time to help us in completing this survey!
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