CCM GQ Coverage Unstructured Interviewing Plan

The Census Bureau plans to conduct research under the generic clearance for questionnaire pretesting research (OMB number 0607-0725). We will conduct unstructured interviews to assist in the development of new methods and questionnaire for assessing the group quarters (GQ) coverage in 2020. This is the initial step in a research project to collect information on GQ enumeration, document and understand the issues that may arise for a second enumeration of GQ as part of the Census Bureau’s coverage measurement program in 2020.

A new census coverage measurement questionnaire will be designed and pretested after the 2010 census. The new questionnaire aims to identify residents who are living or staying at each sampled group quarters on Census Day. It will capture information about names, dates of birth, ages, Hispanic origins, races, other residences or places they live, and their contact information for followup study. Group quarters is defined as “a place where people live or stay, in a group living arrangement, that is owned or managed by an entity or organization providing housing and/or services for the residents. It is not a typical household-type living arrangement. These services may include custodial or medical care as well as other types of assistance, and residency is commonly restricted to those receiving these services. People living in group quarters are usually not related to each other. Group quarters include such places as college residence halls, residential treatment centers, skilled nursing facilities, group homes, military barracks, correctional facilities, and workers’ dormitories.”

From late June through September, staff from the Census Bureau’s Statistical Research Division (SRD) will conduct up to 24 unstructured interviews with GQ administrators and/or staff with knowledge of the facilities in the Washington, DC; Kansas City, KS; Los Angeles, CA; Salt Lake City, UT; Seattle, WA; and Miami, FL metropolitan areas. Participants will be recruited mainly from the expired GQ sample for the American Community Survey. Subjects will receive a $40 incentive for their participation.

Unstructured interviews will be conducted with a brief topic outline including areas that should be covered if deemed relevant for each GQ. A copy of the topic outline is enclosed. Interviews will be conducted primarily during office hours in the Census Bureau’s cognitive laboratory or via the telephone if the respondents reside outside of the DC metro area. All interviews will be tape-recorded – with the participants' permission – to facilitate analysis of the results.

After they are recruited, interviewees will receive a follow-up telephone call to remind them of their appointments. Participants will be informed that their response is voluntary and that the information they provide is confidential and will be seen only by employees involved in the research project.

The estimated time for completion of the interview is one hour. Thus, the total estimated burden for this test is at most 24 hours.

The contact person for questions regarding this data collection is:

Anna Y. Chan

Research Social Scientist

Statistical Research Division

U.S. Census Bureau

Washington, D.C. 20233

(301) 763-8462

[email protected]

Enclosure