2021 AHS - Supporting Statement B

Supporting Statement for Paperwork Reduction Act Submission

American Housing Survey

OMB Number 2528-0017

B. Collection of Information Employing Statistical Methods

1. Universe and Respondent Selection

The 2021 AHS sample will consist of 127,885 sample housing units. The table below describes the different parts of the sample.

Sample Part Description	Sample Size (number of housing units
National cases representative of the U.S.	35,731
Top 15 metro oversample that include approximately 3,000 units each. Some metros will have a bit less than 3,000 housing units while some will have a bit more than 3,000 housing units	47,175
Subsidized-renter oversample that include original units selected in 2015 AHS and new units added in 2021 AHS	12,060
10 Metropolitan areas that include approximately 3,000 units each. Most metropolitan areas have slightly more than 3,000 housing units due to the accumulation of the new growth of housing since 2015	32,919
Total	127,885

Please refer to the attached 2021 AHS Sample Design and Weighting document for detailed statistical methodology.

2. Procedures for Collecting Information

We expect that a majority of regular AHS interviews will be conducted through personal visit. However, we will conduct a phone match to retrieve phone numbers that match the sample addresses and attempt to collect the data by telephone interview, when possible.

3. Methods to Maximize Response

Based on the 74 percent weighted response rate of the 2019 AHS (73.9 percent unweighted), the Census Bureau expects the 2021 AHS response rate to be 74 percent. If an occupant is reluctant to participate, the Field Representative (FR) informs the regional office staff, who sends a follow-up letter explaining the survey in detail and urging the occupant's cooperation. A Census Bureau FR or his/her supervisor will contact the occupant again.

The Nonresponse Bias Incentives Experiment seeks to improve data quality so that at a given response rate, there is less nonresponse bias. To some extent, if this exercise is successful, it may help to offset lower than desired response rates. As a secondary objective, the experiment will also test whether unconditional, prepaid, cash incentives increase the absolute response rate in the integrated national sample. A more detailed explanation of the design and statistical methods of inference are provided in the attached Project Design Document.

4. Testing Procedures

The Census Bureau conducted a test of the interview forms and procedures in September 1983 and again in 1994 and 1995. Based on the results of the tests, HUD made modifications and changes.

In 2004, HUD and the Census Bureau conducted a major review of the survey questions for neighborhood quality, income, utility costs, and renter subsidies, making changes to each to improve the quality of this information. In October 2004, we tested these changes in a live hothouse test held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

In 2010, questions in the updated Mortgage module were cognitively tested by the Center for Behavioral Science Methods (CBSM) at the Census Bureau. We determined that more work needed to be done on the module, so we reverted to the 2009 AHS version and flow of questions where the 2011 version fell short. In 2020, HUD and the Census Bureau redesigned the Mortgage module. CBSM again cognitively reviewed and tested it. The Census Bureau and HUD reviewed and discussed all of CBSM’s recommendations.

In 2012, the Delinquent Payments and Notices supplemental module questions were cognitively tested by CBSM as part of the 2013 AHS Doubling Up supplemental module.

In 2014, HUD and the Census Bureau conducted an exhaustive review of the core questionnaire content. We revised questions, changed the order, and eliminated some questions based on nonresponse rates and respondent burden. Because of these changes, questions in some of the core modules, e.g., Breakdown, Neighborhood Quality, Equipment, Home Improvement, Recent Movers, Income, and Mortgage, needed to be tested for implementation in the 2019 questionnaire.

In 2020, the questions in the new supplemental modules, Intent to Move, Expanded Renter Housing Search, Wildfire Risk and Pets, were cognitively reviewed and some additionally tested by CBSM. The Census Bureau and HUD reviewed and discussed all of CBSM’s recommendations.

5. Contacts for Statistical Aspects and Data Collection

HUD consulted the following individuals on the statistical data collection and analysis operation:

Tamara Cole

Associate Directorate for Demographic Programs

U.S. Census Bureau

(301) 763-4665

Statistical Design, Analysis, and Collection

James Farber

Demographic Statistical Methods Division

U.S. Census Bureau

(301) 763-1844

Statistical Design

Michael DiDomenico

Office of Evaluation Sciences

General Services Administration

(202) 368-2604

Nonresponse Bias Incentives Experiment

Attachments