NSC Request Letter to OMB 091420

September 10, 2020

TO:

Desk Officer for the U.S. Census Bureau
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs/OMB

FROM:

Victoria Velkoff, Associate Director for Demographic Programs
U.S. Census Bureau

SUBJECT:

Request for Approval for Non-Substantive Change:
Revisions to the Household Pulse Survey Questionnaire, Phase 2

signed by
VICTORIA Digitally
VICTORIA VELKOFF
Date: 2020.09.10
VELKOFF 16:22:36 -04'00'

The Census Bureau is writing to request approval of a Non-Substantive Change related to the
Household Pulse Survey (OMB No. 0607-1013). Specifically, the Census Bureau proposes
slight revisions to the Household Pulse Survey “Phase 2” questionnaire as approved by OMB on
August 19, 2020.
The revisions are as follows:
1) Questionnaire item regarding school enrollment status of children in the household.
Questionnaire item 42 is designed to understand school enrollment status for children living in
the household:
Q42 (education)
At any time during the 2020-2021 school year, will any children in this household be
enrolled in a public school, enrolled in a private school, or educated in a homeschool
setting in Kindergarten through 12th grade or grade equivalent? Select all that apply.
1) Yes, enrolled in a public or private school
2) Yes, homeschooled
3) No
Given the number of school districts announcing plans to conduct classes 100% virtually with
the start of the 2020-2021 school year, we were concerned that the response option, “Yes,
homeschooled” may be confusing for respondents – that is, they may confuse “homeschooled”
with “doing school from home” while enrolled in a public or private school.

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We edited the response option to clarify what is meant by “homeschooled” to read, “Yes,
homeschooled (not enrolled in a public or private school).” This edit minimizes potential
confusion for respondents and yields better data for users interested in how households are
making decisions to homeschool their children outside of public and private school systems.
The item now reads (change highlighted in yellow):
Q42 (education)
At any time during the 2020-2021 school year, will any children in this household be
enrolled in a public school, enrolled in a private school, or educated in a homeschool
setting in Kindergarten through 12th grade or grade equivalent? Select all that apply.
1) Yes, enrolled in a public or private school
2) Yes, homeschooled (not enrolled in a public or private school)
3) No
2) Questionnaire items relating to spending behaviors
The Census Bureau, in collaboration with cognitive experts at the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
tested new response options for two questions relating to the consumer spending. These are
currently Items 19b. and 19c. in the Household Pulse Survey Phase 2 instrument. 1 We propose
adding new response options in the first question (19b.) aimed at measuring spending changes in
the last 7 days related to shopping in-stores, eating at restaurants, attending medical
appointments, or resuming/starting housekeeping or caregiving services. The second question
(19c.) also includes new response options aimed at measuring the reasons for these spending
changes.
A report on the methodology for testing these question items, findings and recommendations can
be found in Attachment 1. As an outcome of the testing, we propose revision of these questions
to include the new response options, highlighted here in yellow:
Q19b (spending)
In the last 7 days, which of the following changes have you or your household made to
your spending or shopping? Select all that apply.
1) Made more purchases online (as opposed to in store)
2) Made more purchases by curbside pick-up (as opposed to in store)
3) Made more purchases in-store (as opposed to purchases online or curbside
pickup)
At the time of testing, these items were sequenced in a draft version of the questionnaire as Items 21d. and 21f.,
and the attached cognitive testing report references them this way. However, the items currently are sequenced
as Items 19b. and 19c. in the Phase 2 questionnaire now in production. The Phase 2 questionnaire is accessible at
https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/demo/technicaldocumentation/hhp/Phase_2_Questionnaire_09_09_2020_English.pdf.
1

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4) Increased use of credit cards or smartphone apps for purchases, instead of using
cash
5) Avoided eating at restaurants
6) Resumed eating at restaurants
7) Canceled or postponed in-person medical or dental appointments
8) Attended in-person medical or dental appointments
9) Canceled or postponed housekeeping or caregiving services
10) Resumed or started new housekeeping or caregiving services
11) Did not make any changes to spending or shopping behavior (SKIP 21F)
Q19c (spending)
(if 19b = 1 through 10) In the last 7 days, for which of the following reasons have you or
your household changed spending? Select all that apply.
1) Usual shopping places were closed or had limited hours (e.g., restaurant,
doctor/dentist office, health club, hair salon, child care center, etc.)
2) Usual shopping places re-opened or increased hours
3) Concerned about going to public or crowded places or having contact with
high-risk people
4) Less concerned about going to public or crowded places or having contact
with high-risk people
5) Loss of income
6) Increased income
7) Concerns about being laid off or having hours reduced
8) Less concerned about being laid off or having hours reduced
9) Working from home/teleworking
10) Resumed working onsite at workplace
11) Concerns about the economy
12) Less concerned about the economy
13) Other, specify:
The Census Bureau believes these changes are beneficial to the Household Pulse Survey and
provide more accurate, nuanced data to users. We appreciate your consideration and are happy
to address any questions or concerns associated with this request.

Attachments
Attachment 1: Census Household Pulse Survey Phase 2 Cognitive Testing