ACS_2015.mp3 Transcript


I'm the last speaker before the break, so I hope we can stay awake through my presentation. Okay. So I'm Leah Boden. I'm the data dissemination specialist. I cover Northern California. Jerry Wong is here. He has been around since for a while, and he's going to be doing an update on some of the training programs that we offer. And everybody hear me OK.

OK, good Let's see. Turn your back. So so Julie asked me to cover three topical areas. All three of these areas were covered during the last SDC virtual conference that that happened. I think it was April, I believe. So I'll be looking at the American Community Survey, Content Review and talking about the agility and action plan. I'll also cover the current status of the micro data analysis system, which is going to be a pilot that will allow one to extract the full gamut of micro data and then also will highlight the movement of the Census Bureau on through this innovative effort set PSI to generate this new platform for data dissemination, data access and data

extraction. So what is set? PSI It sounds like a a name within itself is the Center for Enterprise Dissemination, Service Services and Consumer Innovation for set PSI. It really as you see why they have an acronym for it so as you all know, many of you been around for a while. You know, the American Community Survey became you know fully operational in 2005 it replaced the decennial long forum.

And responses to the American Community Survey are mandatory. Our responses are confidential and the American Community Survey is the authoritative source of annual demographics, socioeconomic and housing information for all communities.

The covers 35 topics and supports over 300 known federal government uses the advantage of the American community surveys that is providing this trend data for states, counties, cities, census tracts and small areas in some cases, this the only way that we get data for small rural communities. We generate over 1 billion estimates for over 35,000 communities we'll be releasing the five year data set on December the 10th so the content review, you know, one of the things that we know is really, you know, the access has been evolving since you know 2005 or at 20, 15 it's actually been ten years.

And as it evolves we also continue to get pressure to adapt so the Census Bureau does this content review that builds upon our earlier efforts during the the the cut the 2012 X program review and this process and really looked at and examined and confirmed the value of each question so there were you know 24 housing questions and 48 person questions.

It confirmed and updated the legal basis for each question. We got input from federal agencies and other data users. We analyze the data using this pre specified criteria that was established by the subcommittee of the Interagency Council on Statistical Policy that I see ESP. And then recommendations were developed for X content that would provide one the most useful information and to provide the least amount of burden to the public.

So this review process resulted in five questions of being candidates for removal. So the business or medical office on the property field of degree and marital history so the changes resulting from the 2014 years content review was what to remove the questions concerning business or medical office. They reviewed over 1700 comments and in response it was positive federal register notice and that caused the removal of this particular question.

A new federal register notice came out on February 29th 2015 proposing three additional changes resulting from late breaking developments. From our ongoing research on ways to reduce a respondent burden and that these changes are removing the question about flush toilets from plumbing facilities. We were ending the question on computer and internet usage and then thirdly, streamlining our mailing procedures so out of this process, the Census Bureau developed a report, an action plan.

It's called Agility and Action, a snapshot of enhancements to the American Community Survey, which would focus on key areas of analysis. The first one was some really identifying and using data already in place by other federal agencies. Similar lead to what Jamie was talking about so that continues to be a process. And this will potentially allow us to remove perhaps some questions from the American Community Survey.

There's also the goal of reducing in-person follow up attempts. Another area is designing a new survey mail package messages. You know, even though the American Community Survey is mandatory, maybe we can soften the tone on the envelope. You know, required by law versus your response required by law, which one has a softer tone. So that's one of the things they will be testing and also we're looking at evaluating methods to ask questions less frequently or to fewer respondents.

We want to look at additional ways that we can continue to communicate the importance of the American Community survey to our respondents and why we asked each question. We also are seeking expert advice we have a respondent advocate where, you know, the respondent respondents can actually voice their concerns. So there's an avenue to complain if they're if there is a complaint.

And we want to continue to communicate strategically. So this plan is agile, meaning nimble, quick, adaptable. The American Community Survey recognizes the need to be adaptable to change. So there is a 2016 X content test generated from this report to really test the difficulty of the questions while improving data quality on the project would look at would conduct fieldwork using a separate sample from production during the March June 2016 production cycle and also data analysis and stakeholder briefings in 2017.

So one of the areas for example is the commute mode question. It's going to have some device categories for the bus and rail options. The current version says bus or trolley bus streetcar or trolley car, subway or elevated railroad. All right our test version is looking at bus, subway or elevated rail, long distance train or commuter rail, light rail, streetcar or trolley.

Again, being adaptable to the new technology and modes of transportation that people are engaged in. The other sensitive question had to do with, you know, what time did you leave for work? So the current version says what time that this person usually leave home to go to work. Last week, the test version will say last week, what time did this person's trip to work usually begin?

So again, looking at how we reword the questions to take out some of the sensitivity and also making it more a simple oops. So this slide basically just gives you a picture of the different projects and associated timelines for these different tests. So once that was completed, for example, was the matrix sampling operational and statistical assessment and asking the question, do we have to ask each question for every housing unit every time?

So that was one of their review processes. So this will be ongoing. Looks like through, through 2017 again, you know, since we're attempting to be very responsive and doing the research to be sure that we have the right questions, limit the difficulty you get the quality data and also reduce respondent burden. OK, so that's being the overwriting factors.

So also I'm going to move on to the micro data analysis system which is a pilot. This presentation was given during that last again state data center virtual conference. Did anybody sit in on the micro data analysis presentation? Nobody. OK, it's really good that I'm here I thought, well, everybody's going to have to hear it again. All right.

So Mos Mos for short micro data analysis system ex pilot, you know this the Census Bureau really gets that we have data users that want more customization OK, so the MOS will be another tool, another data dissemination system that you're going to have access to the power of it is that it requires no statistical software. Secondly, it's the underlying source of data will contain all the records on the full internal micro data file.

So what is it? It is the successor to the advanced query system, the A.C., which was developed after census 2000 and later went defunct for a lot of different reasons. We let's mass will be a web based tool for creating customizable tables and other data products. It will be an alternative to the pumps the public use micro data files.

My estimates, as I mentioned, will be based on the full internal micro data. In essence, estimates will be consistent with production estimates so in terms of, you know, how that compares with pumps, I'll just make a little note here. There's some limitations of public use of micro data sometimes it contains only a sub sample of the full survey sample resulting in less statistical power and some inconsistencies with official estimates e.g. identify geographies have or are subject to relatively high population thresholds because it based on in the areas, requires downloading the full file and use of statistical software except for table creation that you have access to now and data fair IT and you know, for

customization you have some other choices you can pay the Census Bureau to generate these custom tabulations for you. I think they start like at $3,000, right? Or you can go through the research data center and as you see data here so the capabilities and this is a vision. So we all hope and are definitely optimistic that since this bill is actually going to produce this this beautiful system that will do all the things that we're seeing, it's going to do what you're supposed to do, under-promise and overdeliver, something like that.

So I don't know if this is over promising, but it's going to have, you know, these capabilities to when I say dynamic creation of user defined estimates and in tabulations where you have the flexibility to define your variables, your universe, your geographies of of of interest, that dynamic application of disclosure avoidance methodology, what does that mean? Disclosure avoidance criteria will be applied on demand.

That means the user defined requests. However, that user defined requests must pass a disclosure avoidance criteria to obtain results and results won't be returned. If the criteria is space basis. Whether a table was just a table's too sparse for release, see what else user defined geographies are aggregated from smaller allowed geographies where what that means is you can have queries on geographies that are relatively small, is relatively small population sizes, and that's going to be allowed different from looking at pumps data.

But the major functionality that perhaps we don't see anywhere else, I don't know if that's true or not, that the dynamic calculations of margins of error from the internal micro data, I don't know if there's another product that does that, but this bit, this particular system is apparently it's going to be able to do that all right. And and finally, it's going to be a pilot that's going to be released in 2016.

It's going to be a limited and the assistant chief said that it may not if it may not be pretty initially. So don't have high expectations of all the bells and whistles so this to know that it's going to be developed as the custom heart report in data web it will basically just introduce what this system can do the customization features and provide you the user with an opportunity to comment and is basically going to use the as five year micro data is also going to be limited like I gave you the really the the high capability on the other slide but it's it will not provide real time disclosure avoidance all created estimates will

already be published in this beta site explicitly or derived and estimates are going to be limited to one or two way tables. So these are the variables that will be available for the beta system age, sex, race, Hispanic origin and marital status. The geographic areas nation, state, county and census track. I'm not clear on, on, on how they're actually going to create opportunities for testing but there there will be opportunities maybe starting with the state data center to test the the beta pilot and then they're going to get feedback with multiple releases.

And then at some point when the system gets up and running and it's feasible and reliable, it will be released to the public. So that's the, the mass, the MOS, the micro data system. I mean, if you guys are excited about that. Yeah, it's new and different, right? Yeah. And it's addressing a demand that we have here over and beyond data fair it.

So we're we're all excited about it. And I think that's why we really want it to, you know, talk about that today. So last comment. Yes.

Absolutely. Because you will have full access to all of the micro data yeah. So and I don't know how they're going to phase that. They're going to, you know, produce multiple releases. OK, so I'm sure we're going to be hearing more as soon as that that release happens in January. There'll probably be a webinar on it. And then at that point, they'll talk about maybe more of the defined timeline on Windows.

Some additional variables will be added. OK.

Did they allow network member to receive it?

Absolutely. And that'd be a good email to send out. It's to send up the chain. Absolutely. OK, so said see when I first heard said so I'm thinking, what is that? Is that like the American fact finder? What is that CI? But and they have a whole presentation on this that CI enterprise, but it's the Center for Enterprise Dissemination Services and Consumer Innovation.

There is a team that are a part of this set site leadership that are part of the developers, programmers, leaders that are actually looking at, you know, how do we create this one platform? So it is a set site platform that said CI is developing. Is that clear? All right. So set CI innovative effort to transform an expanded dissemination of census data to seize the digital opportunity and better serve our internal and external customers.

So that's the best. The vision. Ideally, the target is to create one mega platform for data dissemination with everything and every data product and every data set that's on the census website. That sounds like the idea. So this is one of the slides. You know, we we recognize that there is a public expectation for information that is easy to access and understand.

We want to develop this modernize technology platform OK? We understand that American Fact Finder will be going away. So this is the Census Bureau's attempt to create a new platform that will actually engage all of the parts of the the Census Bureau as well as all of the data products and steps us into the federal digital strategy and thirdly, have more operational and cost efficiencies.

It's hopefully, you know, it will be a system that a user would be able to go on to Census.gov and really have a streamlined experience. There is a proof of concept that was shared at the FC FCP last month. So I think John had a chance to review the actual proof of concept is this.

Was a demonstration.

They also gave a demonstration. I don't know who else has gotten the demonstration but I think you guys saw it. Absolutely. So I do have the proof of concept with me, but I promised that I wouldn't show it until I've actually been briefed and other people have been briefed on it. But but the point is there is one.

Isn't that the good news? We do have one. So, you know, we've been hearing Ongoingly that the American fact finder is going to be transitioned, and it really is driven by the fact that our contract will expire. And it's apparently very expensive. So the the this transition plan just tells you that we really want to phase in the change so that there's not kind of an abrupt oh, no.

More American fact finder. So there's in November, we're going to have our first Alpha release so is that next month? Right. So next month we have the first Alpha release apparently that will be shared with the SDC of steering committee. They're happening a meeting that will be forthcoming and it will have a couple of functions and a few data sets.

So the goal is to be agile and to create this feedback loop and also to get, you know, the opinion of the look and feel of the new system and as they go back and fine tune these these small work items, go back and update the system, come back and get more feedback, go back in. So they want to have really kind of these these small sprints of improvement to the system.

And there's this whole year, November through, through July of 2016 where there's, there's still basically an alpha and then we see and in this July 2016 there's the beta release. Now we're seeing the migration of the American of all the different data sets that are a part of American fact finder now on the new platform as well as you being able to access American fact finder at the same time so no worries you still will have this period of accessing American fact finder and also being able to experiment with the the new system and having it go around the block and test it, check the wills out and see how it's going to work for you.

Although ultimately in June of 2017 we'll have any choice because that's good that's going to be it once we get to to that up to that to that point because Americans that find it will be retired during June 2017 we had the full production release of the new search site platform and I guess that's what they're going to call it.

Let's not hold on to that term it could be another another term at that point in time. So let's see there's some contact information if you want to stay abreast of all the different changes that are occurring in American with the American Community Survey and any of our other programs definitely get on to the subscriber and that's that first link and undergo delivery.

And you will be having opportunities to get ongoing communication from the Census Bureau with updates. And then if you want to really understand more of this agility and action plan, I provided the link in the back of your PowerPoint but it's like a 25 page document that talks about all of the different testing projects that are ongoing and what you're trying to achieve with each at the end of it.

So we excited lots of change, lots of change, lots of change. Lots of change, but you know, things that we can look forward to. So with that, I'm done in questions oh, right, right.

Yeah. And why, sir?

Well, there's always things that happen when they change platforms. Yeah, there will be general unhappiness and teach.

People how to how to use a new system. Sure. Absolutely. Absolutely. So there's the last thing yes. The Senate side. Yes. So how to integrate everything you want to be part of that? That's what I understand in a sense. And let me get real clear on this, but it sounds like, you know, data web is kind of integrating everything because it's going to be on the same platform as the data web and data fair.

It must be a piece like to this. I don't know. I don't know how they're going to integrate that piece.

I think once the once the beta rolls out, are we talking about the mass or the or set site platform talking about right now a lot of folks on the right, Americans tech right. That won't change at all. I don't know how that's going to work. Apparently, you're going to be able to go on to Census.gov, putting some search criteria and you're going to be able to.

Then they will return you to some of the key tables and or places to go if the consensus stuck up.

Whether you can access the data files as you have, the answer is yes. Yeah, right.

OK, thank you.

Yeah, the demonstration was.

To walk you through that. Thank you. But you have an advantage. I haven't seen a formal.

I felt it wasn't intuitive, but it I think, you know, you have to have some knowledge of the census terminology to use it, but it seems a lot more straightforward. And they offer.

Them.

And during the overlap period, by the way, all new releases will only go. And I said so not a.

Anything else you liked about it, about the new platform.

It was quick. So I was really impressed with the demonstration and how they did it. But like I said, it was not intuitive. They had to enter in all the census terminology to get what they wanted. So if you know that it's pretty straightforward, but if not, you're not going to jump right into it.

And it sounds like there once they launch the Alpha, they're going to be doing a series of focus groups and usability studies to try to get feedback on.

The data center. So we're going to be one of the focus groups.

Very good, very good. So you will have an opportunity to test it as more detailed questions about what's going to be on it and how it's going to work. OK, it's.

Going to be hopefully an internal review, too. They have to get a lot of answers on it, and they'd like to know how it works and how people are using it. So yeah, they want everyone to really throw themselves into the usage of it and get as much feedback as they can. So let's.

Think that, well, it's exciting it is change, just like we had to learn and have some master of American Fact Finder and we'll have to learn a new system.

Under the new system I can use to extrapolate the 2008 data. I know they start with the units of House 25 and want to build 2000 census and.

My understanding was it will potentially cover that. Yes.

And they will also not divide it.

They know that I was not. I think they understand that.

In my understanding and I know Karen had asked that question so in terms of just talking to some of the developers, you know they are saying it will have the 1990 2020 ten everything that's on the current data web platform, it will be migrated over.

That's where they say they're going to include everything they shouldn't.

Yeah. They said everything. So we have to but yeah, we'll have a chance to test it and ask more questions and that's when and fine and they'll be fine tuning it over that one year period. OK thank you very much.