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Documentation:

ACS 2009 (5-Year Estimates)

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Publisher: U.S. Census Bureau

Survey: ACS 2009 (5-Year Estimates)

Documentation

ACS 2009 (5-Year Estimates)

Design and Methodology: American Community Survey

Acknowledgments

Foreword

The American Community Survey-A Revolution in Data Collection

The Beginning

Annual results will be available for all areas by 2010

The 2008 release of the ACS Design and Methodology Report

Success of the Program

Chapter 1. Introduction

Chapter 2. Program History

Overview

Design Origins and Early Proposals

Development

Demonstration

Full Implementation

Stakeholders and Contributors

References

Chapter 3. Frame Development

Overview

Master Address File Content

Master Address File Development and Updating for the Uinted States Housing Unit Iinventory

MAF Development in the United States

MAF Improvement Activities and Operations

Delivery Sequence File

MAFGOR

Address Updates From ACS Nonresponse Follow-Up

DAAL

CAUS

Master Address File Development and Updating for Puerto Rico

MAF Development in Puerto Rico

MAF Improvement Activities and Operations in Puerto Rico

Master Address File Development and Updating for Special Places and Group Quarters in the United States and Puerto Rico

MAF Development for Special Places and GQs

MAF Improvement Activities and Operations for Special Places and GQs

American Community Survey Extracts from the Master Address File

References

Chapter 4. Sample Design and Selection

Overview

Housing Unit Sample Selection

First-Phase Sample

Main and Supplemental Sampling

Determining the Sampling Rates

First-Stage Sample: Random Assignment of Addresses to a Specific Year

Second-Stage Sampling: Selection of Addresses

Sample Month Assignment for Address Samples

Second-phase Sampling for CAPI Follow-up

Group Quarters Sample Selection

Small Group Quarters Stratum Sample

First Phase of Small GQ Sampling-Stage One: Random Assignment of GQ Facilities to Subframes

First Phase of Small GQ Sampling Stage Two: Selection of Facilities

Second Stage of Small GQ Sampling: Selection of Persons Within Selected Facilities

Large Group Quarters Stratum Sample

First Phase of Large GQ Sampling: Selection of Groups of Ten (and Associated Facilities)

Second Phase of Large GQ Sampling: Selection of Persons Within Facilities

Sample Month Assignment for Small and Large Group Quarter Samples

Remote Alaska Sample

References

Chapter 5. Content Development Process

Overview

History of Content Development

2003-2007 Content

ACS Content

Puerto Rico Community Survey (PRCS) Content

Content Policy and Content Change Process

Content Change Factors

Content Change Requirements

2006 Content Test

References

Chapter 6. Survey Rules, Concepts, and Definitions

Structure of the Housing Unit Questionnaire

Address, Housing Unit Status, and Household Information

Basic Demographic Information

Detailed Housing Information

Detailed Population Information

Structure of the Group Quarters Questionnaires

Chapter 7. Data Collection and Capture for Housing Units

Telephone Questionnaire Assistance (TQA)

Data Capture

Failed-Edit Follow-Up

Telephone Phase

Personal Visit Phase

Data Collection in Remote Alaska

References

Chapter 8. Data Collection and Capture for Group Quarters

Overview

Group Quarters (Facility)-Level Phase

Previsit Mailings

GQ Introductory Letter

GQ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Brochure

GQ State and Local Correctional Facilities Letter

Initial Contact With GQ Facility

Visiting the GQ Facility

Person-Level Phase

Preparation

Person-Level Survey Materials

Completing the GQ Questionnaire

Questionnaire Review

Check-In and Data Capture

Check-In

Data Capture

Special Procedures

Biannual Data Collection in Remote Alaska

Annual Data Collection Restrictions in Correctional and Military Facilities

Survey Period and Security Restrictions in Federal Correctional Facilities

Chapter 9. Language Assistance Program

Telephone and Personal Visit Follow-Up

Group Quarters

Research and Evaluation

References

Chapter 10. Data Preparation and Processing for Housing Units and Group Quarters

Overview

Data Preparation

Creation and Preparation of Data Capture Files

Daily Data Processing

Monthly Data Processing

Coding

Backcoding

Industry and Occupation Coding

Geocoding

Preparation for Creating Select Files and Edit Input Files

Response Type and Number of People in the HU

Determining if a Return Is Acceptable

Unduplicating Multiple Returns

Creating the Select Files and Edit Input Files

Select Files

Edit Input Files

Data Processing

Editing and Imputation

Editing

Imputation

Generating Recoded Variables

Reviewing Edit Results

Creating Input Files for Data Products

Multiyear Data Processing

References

Chapter 11. Weighting and Estimation

Overview

2007 ACS Group Quarters Person Weighting

Sampling Weight

Calculation of the GQ NonInterview Adjustment Factor

Calculation of the GQ Person Post-Stratification Factor

2007 ACS Housing Unit Weighting-Overview

2007 ACS Housing Unit Weighting-Probability of Selection

Sampling Weight

Variation in the Monthly Sample Factor

2007 ACS Housing Unit Weighting-Noninteview Adjustment

Calculation of the First Noninterview Adjustment Factor

Calculation of the Second Noninterview Adjustment Factor

Calculation of the Mode Noninterview Factor and Mode Bias Factor

2007 ACS Housing Unit Weighting-Housing Unit and Population Controls

Models for PEP estimates of housing units and population

Calculation of Housing Unit Post-Stratification Factor

Calculation of Person Weights

Calculation of Final Housing Unit Factors

Multiyear Estimation Methodology

Pooling the data

Geography

Derivation of the multiyear controls

Model-assisted estimation

Other multiyear estimation steps

References

Chapter 12. Variance Estimation

Overview

Variance Estimation for ACS Housing Unit and Person Estimates

Replicate Factors

Replicate Weights

Variance Estimates

Variance Estimation for Multiyear ACS Estimates

Margin of Error and Confidence Interval

Variance Estimation for the PUMS

References

Chapter 13. Preparation and Review of Data Products

Overview

Geography

Defining the Data Products

Description of Aggregated Data Products

Geographic Comparison Tables (GCTs)

Thematic Maps

Selected Population Profiles (SPPs)

Public Use Microdata Sample

Generation of Data Products

Disclosure Avoidance

Swapping

Data Release Rules

Data Review and Acceptance

Important Notes on Multiyear Estimates

Custom Data Products

Chapter 14. Data Dissemination

Overview

Schedule

Data Release Timetable

Presentation of Tables

American FactFinder

ACS Web Site

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) Site

Chapter 15. Improving Data Quality by Reducing Nonsampling Error

Address Corrections from Rural Directories

Address Listing

Administrative Entities

Allocation

American Community Survey (ACS) Alert

American Community Survey Demonstration Program

American Community Survey Full Implementation

American Community Survey Test Sites

American FactFinder (AFF)

American Indian Area, Alaska Native Area, Hawaiian Homeland (AIANAHH)

Assignment

Automated Address Unduplication

Automated Clerical Review

Automated Editing

Automated Listing and Mapping Instrument (ALMI)

Automated Review Tool (ART)

Automated Review Tool II (ART II)

Base Tables

Base Weight

Be Counted Enumeration and Be Counted Questionnaire

Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS)

Case Management

Census 2000 Supplementary Survey (C2SS)

Census County Division (CCD)

Census Designated Place (CDP)

Census Geography

Census Information Center (CIC)

Coefficient of Variation (CV)

Cold Deck Values

Collapsing

Community Address Updating System (CAUS)

Comparison Profile

Complete Interview

Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI)

Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI)

Confidence Interval

Confidentiality

Congressional Tool Kit

Consumer Price Index (CPI)

Control File

Controlled

Count Question Resolution (CQR)

Cross Tabulation

Current Population Survey (CPS)

De Facto Residence Rules

Delivery Sequence File (DSF)

Demographic Area Address Listing (DAAL)

Derived Products

Detailed Tables

Disclosure Avoidance (DA)

Disclosure Review Board (DRB)

Edit

Edit Management and Messaging Application (EMMA)

Estimates

Evaluation Studies

Failed Edit Follow-Up (FEFU)

Federal Agency Information Program (FAIP)

Federal Government Unit (FGU)

Federal Register Notice

Federal-State Cooperative Program for Population Estimates (FSCPE)

Field Representative (FR)

File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

Final Outcome Code

First Stage Sample

Five-Year Estimates

Functioning Governmental Unit (FGU)

General Coding

Geocoding

Geographic Summary Level

Government Printing Office (GPO)

Governmental Unit Measure of Size (GUMOS)

Group Quarters (GQ) Facilities

Group Quarters Facilities Questionnaire (GQFQ)

Group Quarters Geocoding Correction Operation

Group Quarters Listing Sheet

Group Quarters Measure of Size (GQMOS)

Interactive Voice Recognition (IVR)

Intercensal Estimates

Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA)

Master Address File (MAF)

Master Address File Geocoding Office Resolution (MAFGOR)

Master Address File/TIGER® Reconciliation

Margin of Error (MOE)

Measure of Size (MOS)

Measurement Error

Median

Metadata

Minor Civil Division (MCD)

Multiyear Estimates

Municipio

Narrative Profile

National Processing Center (NPC)

Non-City-Style Address

Noninterview/Nonresponse

Nonresponse Error

Nonresponse Follow-Up

Nonsampling Error

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Operational Response Rates

Optical Mark Recognition (OMR)

Overcoverage

Period Estimates

Point-in-Time Estimates

Population Controls

Primary Sampling Unit (PSU)

Processing Error

Public Use Microdata Area (PUMA)

Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) Files

Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) Management and Messaging Application (PMMA)

Puerto Rico Community Survey (PRCS)

Quality Assurance (QA)

Selected Population Profiles (SPPs)

Short Form

Single-Year Estimates

Size Thresholds

Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE)

Special Census

Special Place (SP)

Special Sworn Status (SSS) or Special Sworn Status (SSS) Individual

Standard Error

State Data Center (SDC)

Statistical Areas

Statistical Significance

Successive Differences Replication (SDR)

Sufficient Partial Interview

Summary File 3 (SF 3)

Summary File 4 (SF 4)

Supplemental Sample

Survey

Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP)

Survey Quality

Survey Response Rates

Telephone Questionnaire Assistance (TQA)

Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (TIGER®) System or Database

Tract

Undeliverable-As-Addressed (UAA)

Voluntary Methods Test

WebCATI

Web Data Server (WDS)

Weighting

Glossary of Basic Geographic and Related Terms - Census 2000

Alaska Native Regional Corporation (ANRC)

Alaska Native village (ANV)

Alaska Native village statistical area (ANVSA)

American Indian off-reservation trust land

American Indian reservation

American Indian tribal subdivision

American Indian trust land

Barrio, barrio-pueblo

Block numbering area (BNA)

Census county division (CCD)

Census designated place (CDP)

Congressional district (CD)

Consolidated city

Consolidated metropolitan statistical area (CMSA)

County

County subdivision

Division (census geographic)

Governmental unit (GU)

Hawaiian home land (HHL)

Metropolitan area (MA)

Metropolitan statistical area (MSA)

Minor civil division (MCD)

Municipality

Municipio

New England County Metropolitan Area (NECMA)

Off-reservation trust land

Oklahoma tribal statistical area (OTSA)

Outlying Areas

Parish

Place

Primary metropolitan statistical area (PMSA)

Pseudo-voting district (pseudo-VTD)

Public use microdata area (PUMA)

Region (census geographic)

Rural

School district

State

State designated American Indian statistical area (SDAISA)

State legislative district (SLD)

Traffic analysis zone (TAZ)

Tribal block group

Tribal census tract

Tribal designated statistical area (TDSA)

Tribal jurisdiction statistical area (TJSA)

Tribal subdivision

Trust land

United States

Unorganized territory (UT)

Urban

Urban area

Urban cluster (UC)

Urban growth area (UGA)

Urbanized area (UA)

Voting district (VTD)

ZIP Code area

ZIP Code tabulation area (ZCTAa)

Zona urbana

Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau; Design and Methodology, American Community Survey. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 2009.

ACS 2009-5yr Summary File: Technical Documentation

Chapter 1. Introduction

1.1. The American Community Survey

1.2. The American Community Survey Summary File

1.3. Topics and Geographies Covered

1.4. Tools for Obtaining Data

1.5. Notable Changes to the Summary File

1.6. Contact Us

Chapter 2. How to Use the ACS Summary File

2.1. Locating the Summary File

2.2. Summary File Organization

2.3. Sequence Numbers

2.4. Geography File

2.5. Layout of the Geography File

2.6. Estimate and Margin of Error Files

Chapter 3. User Tools

3.1. Summary File Excel Retrieval Tool

3.2. Summary File Data Ferrett Application

3.3. Summary File SAS Tool

3.4. Summary File Excel Import Tool

3.5. Merging a Geography File with Estimates or Margins of Error Files in Excel

Chapter 4. User References

4.1. Detailed Tables for the 2005-2009 ACS 5-Year Estimates

4.2. 2005-2009 ACS 5-Year Estimate Summary Levels/Components For Detailed Tables

4.3. Sequence Number and Table Number Lookup

4.4. Table Shells List

4.5. Excel Geography Files

4.7. Table Name Changes - ACS 5yr

4.8. Table Name Changes - ACS 1yr

Appendix A. Supplemental Documentation

2009 Code List

2009 Subject Definitions

Group Quarters Definitions

Group Quarters

American Community Survey: Multiyear Accuracy of the Data

Introduction

Data Collection

Sample Design

Weighting Methodology

Estimation Methodology for Multiyear Estimates

Confidentiality of the Data

Errors in the Data

Measures of Sampling Error

Calculation of Standard Errors

Testing for Significant Differences

Examples of Standard Error Calculations

Issues with Approximating the Standard Error of Linear Combinations of Multiple Estimates

Puerto Rico Community Survey: Multiyear Accuracy of the Data

Measures of Sampling Error

Confidence Intervals and Margins of Error

Calculation of Standard Errors

Testing for Significant Differences

Examples of Standard Error Calculations

Issues with Approximating the Standard Error of Linear Combinations of Multiple Estimates

Appendix B. Graphical Representation of ACS Summary File Organization

B.1 2005-2009 ACSSF All In 2 Giant Files (Experienced-Users-Only)

B.2 2005-2009 ACSSF By State All Tables

B.3 2005-2009 ACSSF By State By Sequence Table Subset

Appendix C. User Notes

C.1. Jam Values

C.2. Rounding Rules, Margin of Errors (MOE)

C.3. Display of Estimates

C.4. Sequences Used Only for United States Tables or Only for Puerto Rico Tables

C.5. Multiple Sequences For a Table

Tables That Are Contained in More Than One Sequence File

Appendix D. Examples

D.1. Creating a Table

D.2. Creating a Table Using SAS

Appendix E. Detailed Tables for ACS 2005-2009 Data

Appendix F. ACS 5-Year Summary Levels/Components for Detailed Tables

Document History

Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey 2005-2009 Summary File: Technical Documentation.

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