2020 Research Questions in 2016 Census Test

2016 Census Test Scope of Research – OMB Package

We will research the following questions from the R&T Management Plan in the 2016 Census Test:

• LNG1 - What are the number of non-English languages and level of support needed for the 2020 Census?

• LNG2- Can we deliver data collection instruments that cognitively work on small devices and in multiple languages (C.k)?

• ISR1- What are the self-response rates and Internet self-response rates across various contact strategies (A.a, A.b)? What are the response rate projections for all self-response modes?

• ISR2 - What are the impacts on self-response rates when utilizing an internet push methodology?

• ISR7 - *How much can we improve the usability and respondent experience with internet response functionality? Mobile-optimized application? Encouraging responses without a Census ID?

• ISR9 - *What is the optimal combination of individual (e.g., housing unit) level contact strategies used in 2020 and how will these be tailored based on demographic and geographic areas? Which modes are most usable by which demographic, language, and geographic groups (A.f)?

• NID1 - Can we effectively automate the processing of census responses lacking a preassigned census identification number?

• NID2 - What is the most effective process by mode for materials and real-time processing for Non-ID responses?

• NID3 - What methodology will be used to conduct Non-ID response validation?

• NID4 - *How can Non-ID respondents help confirm the location of their living quarters?

• NID5 - At what proportion did office resolution confirm the existence and location of nonmatching addresses?

• NID6 - What is the expected scale of the 2020 Non-ID workload?

• NID7 - If the proportion of Non-ID responses increases in 2020, can the Census Bureau accommodate the corresponding increase in workload for downstream operations such as manual matching and geocoding or address verification (office and field-based)?

• NID8 - How will Administrative Records and third-party data be used to improve matching in Non-ID Processing?

• CQA1 - *What are the expected Census Questionnaire Assistance (CQA) telephone workloads?

• CQA2 - *What are the CQA telephone reasons for calls?

• CQA9 - *What is the impact of the mailing strategy on CQA workload?

• NFRU1 - Can we use administrative records and third-party data to enumerate some non-responding housing units? Identify and remove vacant units from NRFU workload? What is the final set of administrative records and third-party (including state-level data sources) that are necessary to support the 2020 Census Nonresponse Followup operation? How much of the non-response workload can be successfully removed from fieldwork using Administrative Records (E.d)?

• NRFU2 - Can we use an adaptive design approach for cases not enumerated with administrative records and third-party data? Compare to fixed enumeration approach? Reduce number of contact attempts? What is the final approach for the use of variable contact strategies and stopping rules to balance the goal of reducing the number of attempts against having consistent response rates across demographic groups and geographic area?

• NRFU3 - *How can we use telephone methods to enumerate non-respondents? Should decentralized telephoning (i.e., attempts made by an enumerator) and appointments be incorporated into the nonresponse followup contact strategy?

• NRFU4 - What are the optimal staff-to-supervisor ratios? Enumerator to LSO? LSO to FMO? What is the field management staffing structure (including staffing ratios) for the Nonresponse Followup operation?

• NRFU9 - To what extent can we minimize the error associated with use of administrative records and third-party data for the removal of vacants and occupied housing units?

• NRFU10 - Will statistical modeling, a rules-based approach, or a combination be used for determination of housing unit status?

• NRFU11 - When are proxy responses used in the Nonresponse Followup operation?

• NRFU12 - What is the best approach for coordinating enumeration of nonresponding addresses in multi-units and gated communities?

• NRFU14 - Given potential for infusing quality throughout the nonresponse followup systems and procedures, what is the operational design for the NRFU quality assurance component?

• NRFU18 - What are the business rules for optimizing case assignments? What should the contact strategy be in terms of modes and timing for household follow-up (E.b)?

• DSC1 - *How do alternatives to Government Furnished Equipment impact Help Desk Support?

• DSC2 - *What is the optimal service center staffing structure for the 2020 Census? Centralized or decentralized? Optimal staff ratios? Type of technical support needed in local field offices? Impact on services rendered of the number of field offices that are deployed, and number of field staff hired? Impact on services rendered of using wireless connectivity in the field offices?

• DSC3 - *What methods will be available for contacting the Service Center (e.g., live online chat, texting, smartphone applications, etc.)?

• FLDI5 - What is the approach for the recruiting and onboarding process? What policies and procedures need to be tested to minimize impact to recruiting (C.f)?

• ITIN2 - How can we modernize and increase the efficiency of our IT infrastructure (C.b)? What cloud services are required to support the 2020 operational design (to include CEDCaP and non-CEDCaP)?

• ITIN4 - *To what extent will BYOD and device as a service (DAS) be used to support field operations? What is the plan for the use of mobile devices for the 2020 Census? Security Platform for Mobile Devices (DAS & BYOD)? BYOD Acceptable Use Policy? BYOD Reimbursement Policy?

• ITIN5 - *What is the projected demand that the IT infrastructure and systems need to accommodate?

The following questions from the R&T Management Plan have been descoped for the 2016 Census Test:

• CFD1 - Explore different formats and content to email, text and automated voice invitations.

• CFD7 - What is the paper questionnaire layout for respondents living in residences other than households (e.g. group quarters and transitory locations)?

• ISR3- What is the quality of the phone and email contact information acquired from commercial sources?

• ISR10 - What type of Internet form design will facilitate high quality self-response data collection in Group Quarters?

• ISR11 - What are the benefits and risks associated with using the Census contact frame to reach respondents via email and text messages?

• CQA5 - Will CQA handle centralized outbound calling for Nonresponse Followup quality assurance component?

• ITIN6 - What IT infrastructure is needed for broad business implementation of administrative records and third-party data from legal and security perspectives, like Title 26?

* These questions are not represented in the attached GOSC but the analysis planned will update past results using similar analysis methods.