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Using the American Community Survey for Children’s Research

Using the American Community Survey for Children’s Research. Dr. Richard Rathge Policy Analyst North Dakota Kids Count. Kids Count Annual Meeting Baltimore, Md Sept. 24, 2010. Presentation Objectives:. 1. Highlight some key challenges of using ACS for children’s research.

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Using the American Community Survey for Children’s Research

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  1. Using the American Community Surveyfor Children’s Research Dr. Richard Rathge Policy Analyst North Dakota Kids Count Kids Count Annual Meeting Baltimore, Md Sept. 24, 2010 Prepared by the North Dakota Kids Count Sept. 2010

  2. Presentation Objectives: 1. Highlight some key challenges of using ACS for children’s research 2. Illustrate the need for a conceptual shift in the way we approach children’s research when using ACS data 3. Initiate dialogue of implications for research and policy Prepared by the North Dakota Kids Count Sept. 2010

  3. Key Challenges for children’s research • Effects of longer period estimates • Consequences of smaller sample size • Rule changes and their impact on trend analyses Prepared by the North Dakota Kids Count Sept. 2010

  4. Period Estimates … ACS vs. Census • Census (conceptually point in time April 1st) • ACS accumulates • 12 months (1-year estimate) • 36 months (3-year estimate) • 60 months (5-year estimate) • Think of shutter speed on camera Prepared by the North Dakota Kids Count Sept. 2010

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  6. Nebraska ACS Data • Thanks to Jerry Deichert for data • Omaha city was an ACS test sites: 1997-2004 • Can examine 1, 3, 5-year data Prepared by the North Dakota Kids Count Sept. 2010

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  12. Key Challenges for rural areas • Effects of longer period estimates • Consequences of smaller sample size • Rule changes and their impact on trend analyses Prepared by the North Dakota Kids Count Sept. 2010

  13. ACS sample size is smaller than Census • One-year sample is 2.5 % of HHs vs 16.7% for Census long form • Over five-year period, ACS sample size is 12.5 percent • Therefore ACS sampling error will be larger Prepared by the North Dakota Kids Count Sept. 2010

  14. Cass County, North Dakota (population 132,585) Prepared by the North Dakota Kids Count Sept. 2010

  15. People Moving to North Dakota Within the Past Year by State of Origin: 2006 ACS

  16. Comparison of 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year Estimates of the Percentage of Persons in Poverty for Omaha, NE: 1999-2005 ACS

  17. Suppression Issues • ACS using suppression similar to the 1970 and 1980 decennial census • Applied to base tables in 1 and 3-year data • Use “data release rules” to protect user from tables “whose reliability is unacceptable” • Suppresses entire table not just unreliable cells Prepared by the North Dakota Kids Count Sept. 2010

  18. 41 cells which will cause suppression for smaller counties Prepared by the North Dakota Kids Count Sept. 2010

  19. Key Challenges for rural areas • Effects of longer period estimates • Consequences of smaller sample size • Rule changes and their impact on trend analyses Prepared by the North Dakota Kids Count Sept. 2010

  20. ACS income not compatible with decennial census data • Decennial census asks income in previous calendar year • ACS asks income in previous 12 months • Both are inflation adjusted • However, Bureau test results show decennial income consistently lower than ACS (4.4% nationwide) • Bureau suggests users “exercise caution” Prepared by the North Dakota Kids Count Sept. 2010

  21. Residency rules very different • Decennial census- “usual place of residence “using 6+ month” rule. • ACS – current residence during the last 2-months. • Attempting to better count seasonal residents Prepared by the North Dakota Kids Count Sept. 2010

  22. What lessons have we learned thus far? • Need to be more mindful of our data users • Rethink how we interpret and disseminate data to the public • Examine ways in which we can better educate ourselves and data user Prepared by the North Dakota Kids Count Sept. 2010

  23. ACS Presentation 2010 • Dr. Richard Rathge, Policy Analyst • North Dakota Kids Count, Fargo, ND NDSU, IACC 424, Fargo, ND 58108 • Richard.Rathge@ndsu.edu • Phone: (701) 231-8621 Fax: (701) 231-9730 • URL: www.ndkidscount.org Prepared by the North Dakota Kids Count Sept. 2010

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