Population Lecture 2
2010 Census Best census ever
"On this one evaluation — the net undercount of the total population — this was an outstanding census," the former Census Bureau Director Robert Groves said. "When this fact is added to prior positive evaluations, the American public can be proud of the 2010 Census their participation made possible."
Types of Error in Demographic Data
1. Errors of Coverage 2. Errors of Classification 3. Errors of Processing
Declaration of Informal Marriage requirements
1. the two people must live together; 2. they must hold themselves out to the public as being married; 3. they must agree that they are married.
Whereas metropolitan areas contain at least one urbanized area of ____________ or more people, micropolitan areas contain at least one urban cluster of between ________________________ people. Micropolitan areas now contain about 10 percent of the nation's population.
50,000, 10,000 and 49,999
Registration of Fetal Deaths
A fetal death certificate is typically filed for any fetus weighing 350 grams (12.3 ounces) or more, or if the weight is unknown, a fetus aged twenty weeks or more. The certificate must be filed with the local registrar within five days of the date of fetal death by the institution or person who is responsible for the disposition of the fetal remains.
What Is the American Community Survey?
A large, continuous demographic survey, administered to around 3 million addresses per year Produces information for small areas including tracts, block groups and population subgroups updated every year
Census Tracts (over 73 thousand in 2010)
Census tracts cover the nation Relatively homogenous population characteristics
Live Birth
Complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of conception, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy After separation, the infant breathes or shows any indication of life.
2. Errors of Classification
Counting the person but recording the incorrect sex or age or race or etc.
Metropolitan Statistical Areas (381 MSAs in the U.S. in 2014)
Defined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Made up of a county or counties (or equivalent entities) Contain large population nucleus High socioeconomic integration
Fetal Death
Disappearance of life prior to live birth After birth, the fetus does not breathe or show any other evidence of life
Effects of the American Community Survey on the 2010 Census
Eliminated long-form Experienced field staff to help with the short-form only census
Vital Registers Statistical measures of life
Fetal death Miscarriages Abortions Still births Live birth Death
Block Groups (almost 218 thousand in 2010)
Groups of blocks sharing the same first digit Smallest areas for which sample data available
Four general questions were asked about the household:
If the housing unit is owned or rented Telephone number How many people live in the residence If any additional people who lived at the residence on April 1st, 2010 were not included
The census per se changed drastically in 2010
In 2010, every residence received a short form of just 10 questions. The CB claims it only takes 10 minutes to complete. More detailed socioeconomic information previously collected through the decennial census is now collected annually of a small percentage of the population through the American Community Survey.
Census 2000 Methodology (prior to the ACS)
In Census 2000, a sample of about 1-in-6 households received a "long form" that included these questions. These questions are now asked on the ACS. Statistics were produced from this sample for a broad set of geographic areas as small as census tracts and block groups
Some Major Results of the 2010 U.S. Census
Minorities are driving nearly all of the population growth in the United States It's mostly Latinos who are driving this population change. We're seeing these changes despite a drop in immigration levels during the recession There's a growing demographic divide between older and younger generations. The multiracial population is increasing but still represents a small share of overall population Population growth of Asian Americans matched that of Latinos since 2000, at 43 percent
For each household member, six questions were asked:
Name; 1. Sex; 2. Age and date of birth 3. Relationship to the person who owns or rents the residence 4. Whether the person is of Hispanic origin 5. The person's race 6. If this person sometimes lives or stays elsewhere
Death
Permanent disappearance of all evidence of life at any time AFTER a live birth has taken place Post-natal cessations of vital functions without the capabilities of resuscitation Can only occur after a live birth
3. Errors Of Processing
Result from errors or mistakes introduced in the actual processing of the census forms and data Due to computer programming errors, and other mistakes during the process of converting questionnaires into census data.
Average size of block
Size: average about 100 people
Average size of block group:
Size: optimally 1,500 people, range between 300 to 3,000
Average size of cencus tracts
Size: optimally 4,000 people, range between 1,000 and 8,000
Blocks (over 11 million blocks in 2010)
Smallest units of data tabulation Cover the entire nation Do not cross census tracts or counties Generally bounded by visible features and legal boundaries
United Nations Recommendations for National Censuses
Sponsorship by national government Defined territory Universality - include everyone on either de jure or de facto basis Simultaneity - a fixed day, hour, and moment becomes the chronological dividing line for inclusion or exclusion. 5. Compilation and publication of the data must occur Defined periodicity - conduct the census in a year as close as possible to one ending in "0"
2010 Census and American Community Survey Methodology
The 2010 Census only counted basic demographic data (e.g., age, sex, relationship, race, Hispanic origin, etc.) (short form only) The sample data, historically collected on the "long form" in the census, are now collected in the ACS ACS samples about 3 million addresses each year
Post-enumeration Survey (also known as Census Coverage Measurement)
The CB conducts a survey after the date of the census and cross-checks the surveyed and census populations.
What happens if a person does not complete the census form?
The CB says the following: Although the law makes it a crime not to answer the decennial census, the American Community Survey and other mandatory censuses, and authorizes the courts to impose a fine of up to $5,000 for failure to respond, the Census Bureau views this approach as a last resort. Rather than emphasizing or seeking the imposition of penalties, we encourage response by explaining the importance of the questions we ask and how the information benefits the community.
Are census data and information shared with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Internal Revenue Service, courts or the police?
The CB says: No, individual census records are not shared with anyone, including government agencies or private organizations. It is against the law for the Census Bureau to give personally identifiable information about an individual to any other individual or agency until 72 years after it is collected for the decennial census. After 72 years, the individual census records are sent to the National Archives where they are made public primarily for genealogical research.
Declaration of Informal Marriage
The certificate for the Declaration and Registration of an Informal Marriage is similar to the marriage certificate. Except that no license is issued after filling out this form. See link on next slide.
Constitutional mandate for the census
The decennial census is mandated in Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution.
1. Errors of Coverage
The failure to enumerate all persons, or counting some persons more than once.
What is a Census?
The total process of collecting, compiling, and publishing demographic, economic and social data pertaining, at a specified time, to all persons in a country or delimited territory
How does the Census Bureau determine the extent of coverage?
This is done in two different ways: 1. Demographic Analysis 2. Post-enumeration Survey (also called Census Coverage Measurement)
Abortion:
an induced early fetal death, legal or illegal
DA produces estimates of the population from sources that are
external and independent of the census Sources include historical data on births, deaths and legal immigration, estimates of undocumented immigration and emigration, and Medicare data
Stillbirth:
late fetal death of 28 weeks or more of gestation
Miscarriage:
spontaneous or accidental termination of fetal life that occurs early in pregnancy
De Facto
the enumeration classifies each person according to his or her geographical location on the day of the census undertaking.
De Jure
the enumeration classifies each person according to his or her normal place of residence.