![Page 1: OVERVIEW OF THE CENSUS BUREAU’S SURVEY DATA COLLECTION OPERATIONS AND FIELD STAFF](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062501/56816814550346895ddda545/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
OVERVIEW OF THE CENSUS BUREAU’S SURVEY DATA COLLECTION OPERATIONS
AND FIELD STAFF
Presentation to the Quarterly Public Meetingof the Occupational Information Development
Advisory PanelSocial Security Administration
September 22, 2011
![Page 2: OVERVIEW OF THE CENSUS BUREAU’S SURVEY DATA COLLECTION OPERATIONS AND FIELD STAFF](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062501/56816814550346895ddda545/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
WHO WE ARE
• Census Bureau Headquarters
• Regional Offices Nationwide Decentralized Field Staff
• National Processing Center Telephone Centers
2
![Page 3: OVERVIEW OF THE CENSUS BUREAU’S SURVEY DATA COLLECTION OPERATIONS AND FIELD STAFF](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062501/56816814550346895ddda545/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
SIZE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CENSUS BUREAU’S FIELD STAFF
FRs SFRsNumber 8,718 611Employee Type Intermittent 7,293 62 Part-Time / Full Time 1,425 549Average Number of Surveys 3.2 8.3Average Length of Service (Years) 5.5 11.5Average Hours Worked (Monthly) 58.2 123.4Average Hourly Salary $15.06 $20.07
3
![Page 4: OVERVIEW OF THE CENSUS BUREAU’S SURVEY DATA COLLECTION OPERATIONS AND FIELD STAFF](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062501/56816814550346895ddda545/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
WHAT WE DO
• Nation’s headcount every 10 years – Constitutional mandate
• Household Demographic Surveys
• Economic Censuses and Census of Governments every 5 years
• Economic surveys and Governments surveys
4
![Page 5: OVERVIEW OF THE CENSUS BUREAU’S SURVEY DATA COLLECTION OPERATIONS AND FIELD STAFF](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062501/56816814550346895ddda545/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
DATA COLLECTED IN THE CENSUS BUREAU’S HOUSEHOLD DEMOGRAPHIC SURVEYS
• Income• Employment, Unemployment, Labor Force• Health• Education• Consumer Expenditures• Housing• Crime Victimization • Poverty• Community and Local Area Demographics and Characteristics
5
![Page 6: OVERVIEW OF THE CENSUS BUREAU’S SURVEY DATA COLLECTION OPERATIONS AND FIELD STAFF](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062501/56816814550346895ddda545/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
CENSUS BUREAU HOUSEHOLD DEMOGRAPHIC SURVEYS
SIZE AND SCOPE• Data gathered from approximately 2.1 million
sample addresses, group quarters and other facilities and address listed each year
• Approximately 45 million miles driven by field staff each year
6
![Page 7: OVERVIEW OF THE CENSUS BUREAU’S SURVEY DATA COLLECTION OPERATIONS AND FIELD STAFF](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062501/56816814550346895ddda545/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
RECRUITING, SELECTING, AND HIRING FIELD STAFF
• Generating interested applicants• Testing to identify qualified applicants• Preparing certificate of qualified applicants• Making contingent job offer• Background security check and criminal history
investigation• I-9• Take the Census Oath of Confidentiality
7
![Page 8: OVERVIEW OF THE CENSUS BUREAU’S SURVEY DATA COLLECTION OPERATIONS AND FIELD STAFF](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062501/56816814550346895ddda545/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CENSUS BUREAU’S FIELD STAFF
• Part-time employees• Work out of their homes• Highly variable work schedule – evenings and weekends• A “people” person and a good listener• Drawn to challenges, persistent, does not take “no” for
an answer• Self-starter, well-organized, detail-oriented• Local knowledge and “street smarts”
8
![Page 9: OVERVIEW OF THE CENSUS BUREAU’S SURVEY DATA COLLECTION OPERATIONS AND FIELD STAFF](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062501/56816814550346895ddda545/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
OTHER ATTRIBUTES OF THE CENSUS BUREAU’S FIELD STAFF
• Older workers
• Many “second job” workers and workers with other commitments e.g. family and school
• The “public face” of the Census Bureau
• Incredibly conscientious and dedicated
9
![Page 10: OVERVIEW OF THE CENSUS BUREAU’S SURVEY DATA COLLECTION OPERATIONS AND FIELD STAFF](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062501/56816814550346895ddda545/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
TRAINING
• Initial Training Pre-Classroom Use of Laptop Computer Generic Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Survey – specific
• Classroom Training Administrative Survey Procedures
10
![Page 11: OVERVIEW OF THE CENSUS BUREAU’S SURVEY DATA COLLECTION OPERATIONS AND FIELD STAFF](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062501/56816814550346895ddda545/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
TRAINING• Initial Observation Translating classroom training to actual data
collection experience• Ongoing Training Monthly memos• Refresher Training Periodic training to keep knowledge and skills up-to-
date and sharp• Prepare for changes in procedures and instruments• Use of laptop computer• Personal safety and security• Vehicular safety
11
![Page 12: OVERVIEW OF THE CENSUS BUREAU’S SURVEY DATA COLLECTION OPERATIONS AND FIELD STAFF](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062501/56816814550346895ddda545/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
GAINING RESPONDENT PARTICIPATION AND COOPERATION
• “Selling the Survey”
• How survey data are used. Who uses the survey results.
• “What’s in It for the Respondent”
• Confidentiality
• Privacy
12
![Page 13: OVERVIEW OF THE CENSUS BUREAU’S SURVEY DATA COLLECTION OPERATIONS AND FIELD STAFF](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062501/56816814550346895ddda545/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
GAINING RESPONDENT PARTICIPATION AND COOPERATION
• Uses of “advance letters” to alert / notify the respondents
• Making the best first impression
• The first critical seconds on the doorstep or the telephone: Complete, concise and persuasive introduction
13
![Page 14: OVERVIEW OF THE CENSUS BUREAU’S SURVEY DATA COLLECTION OPERATIONS AND FIELD STAFF](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062501/56816814550346895ddda545/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
QUALITY CONTROLQUALITY ASSUARANCE
• Striving for best possible response rates consistently
• General Performance Review Field observation
• Reinterview Falsification deterrent Critical content verification
14
![Page 15: OVERVIEW OF THE CENSUS BUREAU’S SURVEY DATA COLLECTION OPERATIONS AND FIELD STAFF](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062501/56816814550346895ddda545/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
SURVEY PROCESS DATA“PARADATA”
• Pace of the interview• Response / Accuracy / Completeness• Timing of First Contact / Interview
• Identify performance outliers Identify trends and patterns
• Should work in harmony with survey goals and should complement each other
15
![Page 16: OVERVIEW OF THE CENSUS BUREAU’S SURVEY DATA COLLECTION OPERATIONS AND FIELD STAFF](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062501/56816814550346895ddda545/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
SURVEY PROCESS DATA“PARADATA”
• Manage and monitor surveys for improved statistical results and operational performance
• “Speed Limits” – Too fast and too slow
• Rates of item response / nonresponse
• Interviews completed by proper mode
• Consistent entries of contact history
16
![Page 17: OVERVIEW OF THE CENSUS BUREAU’S SURVEY DATA COLLECTION OPERATIONS AND FIELD STAFF](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062501/56816814550346895ddda545/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
SURVEY PROCESS DATA“PARADATA”
• Linked to beneficial responsive management and operational strategies and approaches
• Easy to understand, easy to use, accurate, and timely
• Should make “sense” to the data collection staff and motivate performance in the “right direction”
17
![Page 18: OVERVIEW OF THE CENSUS BUREAU’S SURVEY DATA COLLECTION OPERATIONS AND FIELD STAFF](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062501/56816814550346895ddda545/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
MONITORING OPERATIONAL DATA DAILYCOST, PROGRESS, PRODUCTIVITY
• Daily submission of completed work• Cases completed each day• Hours, miles, other costs• Daily productivity Hours / case Miles / case
• Daily submission of payroll data
• Daily support for procedures and technical requirements
18
![Page 19: OVERVIEW OF THE CENSUS BUREAU’S SURVEY DATA COLLECTION OPERATIONS AND FIELD STAFF](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062501/56816814550346895ddda545/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
PROVIDING A CONSTANT STREAM OF FEEDBACK TO FIELD STAFF
• Setting response, timing, and cost expectations
• Daily monitoring and interaction with field staff
• Daily payroll submission by field staff
• Key results from each data collection assignment
• Establish performance standards and conduct formal periodic performance appraisals
19
![Page 20: OVERVIEW OF THE CENSUS BUREAU’S SURVEY DATA COLLECTION OPERATIONS AND FIELD STAFF](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062501/56816814550346895ddda545/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
FIELD ASSIGNMENTS
• Compact geographically
• Achievable
• Consistent in size and scope
• Reassignment / Future assignment of cases to staff who had previous success obtaining a complete interview
20
![Page 21: OVERVIEW OF THE CENSUS BUREAU’S SURVEY DATA COLLECTION OPERATIONS AND FIELD STAFF](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062501/56816814550346895ddda545/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
OVERVIEW OF KEY STEPS IN DATA COLLECTION PROCESS
• Identify data / information need• Determine data collection methodology
and approach• Draw sampling frame and select sample• Develop data collection instrument• Test questions• Develop training
21
![Page 22: OVERVIEW OF THE CENSUS BUREAU’S SURVEY DATA COLLECTION OPERATIONS AND FIELD STAFF](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062501/56816814550346895ddda545/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
OVERVIEW OF KEY STEPS IN DATA COLLECTION PROCESS
• Develop data processing and tabulation system• Develop quality control and quality assurance systems• Determine timing and timeline for data collection and
processing• Establish operational and quality standards and
expectations• Develop administrative support systems
• TEST EVERYTHING
22
![Page 23: OVERVIEW OF THE CENSUS BUREAU’S SURVEY DATA COLLECTION OPERATIONS AND FIELD STAFF](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062501/56816814550346895ddda545/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
MANY, MANY CHALLENGES FACED IN CONDUCTING DATA COLLECTION
• General public concerns about confidentiality, privacy, and identity theft
• Reluctance to share / provide personal information, especially with the government
• Mobility and movement of the population• Busy schedules: Ever narrowing window of opportunity
to contact respondents by personal visit or telephone• Cell phones replacing telephone land lines• Caller ID and other means of screening incoming
telephone calls
23
![Page 24: OVERVIEW OF THE CENSUS BUREAU’S SURVEY DATA COLLECTION OPERATIONS AND FIELD STAFF](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062501/56816814550346895ddda545/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
MANY, MANY CHALLENGES FACED IN CONDUCTING DATA COLLECTION
• Barriers to contact and enumeration including gated communities and security buildings
• Increasing number of languages spoken by households• Complex households and housing units• Households not willing to participate in long interviews
and / or surveys that include multiple interviews
24
![Page 25: OVERVIEW OF THE CENSUS BUREAU’S SURVEY DATA COLLECTION OPERATIONS AND FIELD STAFF](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062501/56816814550346895ddda545/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
CURRENT SURVEY ISSUES• Maintaining and sustaining response rates• Cost containment and remaining cost
competitive• Improving measurement and monitoring of
survey operational, financial, and time performance
• Expanding measurement and monitoring of data quality through paradata
• Making improvements in field staff retention• Reacting to weather and natural disasters
25