2012 ReSIPP CARI Section B CHANGES ACCEPTED

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

U.S. Department of Commerce

U.S. Census Bureau

2012 Survey of Income and Program Participation

Computer Audio Recorded Interviewing Field Test

OMB NUMBER: 0607-XXXX

B. Collection of Information Employing Statistical Methods

1. Universe and Respondent Selection

The respondent universe is the civilian noninstitutionalized population based on the 2000 decennial census, which contains approximately 270 million individuals. The SIPP uses a multistage stratified sample of the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population. The first stage involves the definition and division of the United States into groups of counties called the Primary Sampling Units (PSU), which are assembled into homogeneous groups called strata. The second stage involves selection of units within the PSU.

The 2012 SIPP-EHC CARI Field Test sample is the sixth sample for the SIPP to be fielded from the 2000 redesign of the sample. There are 351 PSUs in the 2000 redesigned SIPP and in sample for the 2012 SIPP-EHC CARI Field Test. The selected PSUs in the 2000 SIPP sample design cover both urban and rural areas of the United States. PSU definitions, address lists, and area segments are all based on the 2000 decennial census.

Within each PSU, living quarters (LQ) are systematically selected from lists of addresses prepared for the 2000 Decennial Census. Other sampling techniques are used to represent new construction, group quarters, and areas where incomplete addresses are common. Low income households were over sampled from the lists of addresses prepared for the census and from the lists of incomplete addresses. Basically, we are taking all the unit frame sample we have selected for SIPP from the high poverty stratum in self-representing PSUs in two sample designations. The 2012 SIPP-EHC CARI Field Test sample consists of approximately 1,300 designated LQs, of which approximately 1,073 will be occupied at the time of interview and about 900 will be interviewed. Each household contains an average of 2.1 eligible respondents; therefore, 2012 the CARI Field Test should contain approximately 1,890 survey respondents. The expected response rate for this test is 75-80%.

2. Procedures for Collecting Information

In sample households, all people 15 years old and older will be interviewed using regular proxy-respondent rules as described in Attachment E. The interviewing period of the 2012 SIPP-EHC CARI Field Test is May 2012 - June 2012. Approximately 1,300 households are selected for the 2012 SIPP-EHC CARI of which 900 households will be interviewed, yielding 1,890 person-level interviews. Interviews take one hour on average. The total annual burden for the 2012 SIPP-EHC CARI interviews will be 1,890¹ hours in FY 2012.

We expect the minimum detectable differences between the CARI Field Test and the 2012 SIPP-EHC test participation rates to be approximately 2.5 to 5% at the 10% level of significance. The main focus for the test is on this participation rate.

3. Methods to Maximize Response

In all SIPP Panels we make special efforts to minimize non-interviews. In each wave, every household in the active sample receives an advance letter that explains the purpose of the survey and why their cooperation is important. In the 2012 SIPP-EHC CARI Field Test each household will be given a brochure (Attachment F) that contains information about the SIPP and informs respondents about the Census Bureau and our commitment to confidentiality. For Type A refusal households, standard procedures include additional visits to the household by another Field Representative (FR) or if needed, a Supervisory Field Representative to convert the household response. In addition to training provided for the SIPP EHC, interviewers involved in the CARI test will also receive a self-study that provides guidance on CARI, specifically, asking the consent question of the household and managing the recording.

4. Tests of Procedures

The current 2012 SIPP-EHC CARI Field Test is part of a program of evaluation and development. This will be the second Field test for the CARI program. Previous tests have proved that the CARI technology does not impact the quality of interviews. This final evaluation is focused on measuring the impact CARI has on major data quality indicators such as response rates and item non response and response bias for demographic programs.

5. Contacts for Statistical Aspects and Data Collection

The Census Bureau will collect and process these data. Within the Census Bureau, the following individuals should be consulted for further information on their areas of expertise:

Sample Design

Tracy Mattingly Chief, SIPP Branch

Demographic Statistical Methods Division

301-763-6445

Program Manager

Candice Barnes Chief, Survey Response and Analysis Branch

Demographic Statistical Methods Division

301-763-2710

Data Collection and Tabulation

Patrick Benton Chief, Income Surveys Branch

Demographic Surveys Division

301-763-4618

Attachments

A. 2012 SIPP-CARI, Selected Questions for Audio Recording

B. 2012 SIPP- CARI Instrument Booklet, Entire Interview

C. SIPP-CARI-105(L)2012–Director's Letter

D. SIPP- CARI-105(L)(SP)2012–Director's Letter Spanish

E. Respondent Rules

F. SIPP 4006A Brochure “SIPP You Represent Your Nation”

1¹See Part A page 5 for a table on burden hours.