[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 9 (Friday, January 12, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2878-2879]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-977]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Current Population Survey (CPS)--Census 2000 Match Study

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before March 12, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Madeline Clayton, 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
6086, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via 
the Internet at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Paul Siegel, U.S. Bureau of the Census, HHES-
1462-3, Washington, DC 20233-8500 ([email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The U.S. Census Bureau plans to create a database of respondent 
records matched between the Current Population Survey (CPS) and Census 
2000. We will use the information to conduct research on estimates of 
various characteristics from these two sources. This matched database 
will permit investigating effects of nonresponse error, coverage error, 
CPS month-in-sample bias, item wording, survey administration, and 
other forms of non-sampling error on estimates of any characteristic 
measured in the two surveys. Some examples are unemployment, income, 
poverty, and racial and ethnic identification. Its immediate uses will 
be in evaluating differences between Census and CPS estimates of median 
household income and poverty for small areas.
    Most of the matches will be made through use of a computer matching 
algorithm and through clerical matching performed by Census Bureau 
employees. These matches will not impose any reporting burden. However, 
there may be a significant number of unmatched cases that will require 
field follow-up. The interviews will be conducted to match the people 
living within a household at the time of the CPS interview to their 
Census 2000 information, or to confirm that individuals in CPS were 
missed in Census 2000. The interviews will only include questions on 
social, demographic, or economic characteristics that are necessary to 
match individuals and households in the two surveys (e.g., address, 
name, age, date of birth, gender, and relationship to others in the 
household).
    Historically, the Census Bureau has conducted several studies of 
matched CPS and Census data. These studies include matches of CPS to 
the Censuses of 1960, 1970, 1980, and 1990.
    This study will allow the Census Bureau to answer many questions 
related to the stated objectives, including:
     What is the magnitude of difference between the census 
estimates of median household income and poverty and those based on the 
March supplement to the CPS arising from each of the following sources: 
(1) Differences in the way in which the data are collected and 
processed; (2) differences in the population to which the poverty test 
is applied, i.e., the poverty universe; and (3) the impact of 
undercoverage and adjustment on both the Census and the CPS estimates.
     To what degree do the census estimates of selected 
characteristics reflect response errors, as measured by simple response 
variance and response bias?
     What are the census characteristics of CPS nonrespondents? 
Are CPS nonrespondents similar to CPS respondents? What adjustments do 
the match results suggest be made in the CPS sampling or weighting 
procedures to better adjust for nonresponse bias?
     Which segments of the population does CPS do a good job of 
covering and which segments are poorly covered? What census information 
can be used to enhance the CPS sampling and weighting procedures to 
improve CPS coverage of all segments of the population?
     What are the census characteristics of the unemployed? 
What are the differences between census and CPS measurements of the 
unemployed and how do these differences relate to census and CPS 
characteristics?
     What is the level of month-in-sample bias for selected CPS 
characteristics? Are any particular segments of the population 
contributing disproportionately to month-in-sample bias? What results 
can be used to adjust for CPS month-in-sample bias?
     How are CPS characteristics related to census data 
(including demographic, socio-economic characteristics)? To what degree 
do differences between CPS and census response provide information 
relevant to the ``true'' response (this may address issues of bias in 
CPS and census estimates)? To what extent can we use census data to 
assess the accuracy of small area estimation models for estimating CPS 
characteristics and improving variance estimates? To what extent can 
census data be used to augment small area estimation models for 
estimating CPS characteristics and improving variance estimates?
     Who reports race or ethnicity differently in the CPS and 
census?

II. Method of Collection

    The field follow-up will be conducted through face-to face 
interviews beginning in August of 2001 and ending by October 2001. 
Identifying information collected throughout the study will be held in 
strict confidence in accordance with Title 13.

III. Data

    OMB Number: Forthcoming.
    Form Number: Forthcoming.
    Type of Review: Regular Submission.
    Affected Public: Those residing at CPS sampled households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 7,500.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 5 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 625.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: There is no cost to the respondent 
other than the time taken to complete the survey.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 USC, Sections 141 & 193.

IV. Request for Comments 

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or

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included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: January 8, 2001.
Madeleine Clayton,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-977 Filed 1-11-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P