United States yearbook - 1982 (1)

Statistical Methodology and Reliability 921
DATA COLLECTION AND
IMPUTATION PROCEDURES
INFORMATION ON ERRORS IN THE DATA
Estimates of sampling Other (nonsampling)
error
errors
SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL
MATERIAL
Data obtained by telephone
inquiry and field visit.
Estimated CV of 3% to 4%
for estimates of national
totals; as high as 20% for
estimated totals of more
detailed characteristics, such
as residential multiunit
structures.
Response rate over 90% for
most Items. Non-sampling
errors attributed to definitional
problems, differences in
interpretation of questions.
Incorrect reporting, inability to
obtain Information about all
cases In the sample, and
processing errors.
U.S. Bureau of Census,
C o n s tru c tio n R e p o rts, series
C20, H o u s in g S ta rts ; C22,
H o u s in g C o m p le tio n s ; C25,
N e w O n e -F a m ily H o u s e s S o ld
a n d F o r S a le ; and C27, P ric e
In d e x o f N e w O n e -F a m ily
H o u s e s S o ld .
See "Type of Data Collection
Operation." Imputation
accounts for approximately
20% of estimated value of
construction each month.
CV estimates for private nonresidential
building
construction range from 3%
for estimated value of
industrial buildings to 10% for
miscellaneous buildings. CV
approximately 2% for total
new private nonresidential
buildings.
For directly measured data
series based on samples,
some nonsampling errors may
arise from processing errors,
imputations, and
misunderstanding of
questions. Indirect data series
are dependent on the validity
of the underlying assumptions
and procedures.
U.S. Bureau of the Census,
C o n s tru c tio n R e p o rts , series
C30, V a lu e o f N e w
C o n s tru c tio n P u t in R a c e .
In 1870, a self-enumeration
census using a mall-out/maliback
procedure used In most
areas. In I960, mail
questionnaires were used in
even more areas than In
1970, with personal Interviews
in the remainder. Followup for
nonrespondents and
identification of vacant units
done by phone and personal
visit.
Evaluation programs are currently being conducted to provide
information on the magnitude of both sampling (for sample
items) and nonsampling errors in the 1980 census, including
undercount (undercount of housing units in 1970 was
estimated to be 1.4 percent).
U.S. Bureau of the Census,
U .S . C e n s u s o f P o p u la tio n
a n d H o u s in g : P ro c e d u ra l
H is to ry , 1 9 6 0 a n d 1 9 7 0 ; and
I9 6 0 C e n s u s o f H o u s in g , voi.
1, (HC80-1-A), Appendixes B,
C, and D.
Survey conducted by personal
Interview with subsequent
followup by telephone or
personal visit.
For the national sample,
Illustrations of the S.E. of the
estimates are provided in the
appendix of each report. As
an example, the estimated CV
Is about .4% for the estimate
of the number of owner
occupied housing units.
Response rate about 94%.
Errors result from incorrect or
incomplete responses, errors
in coding and recording, and
processing errors. For the
1980 national sample, about
650,000 units were not
included in the sample
coverage. A reintervfew study
also indicates some
inconsistencies in the data,
especially in some attitudlnal
items.
U.S. Bureau of the Census,
C u rre n t H o u s in g R e p o rts,
series H-160 and H-170,
Annual Housing Survey.