Ethnographic Research at the U.S. Census Bureau: The Enumeration of Border Communities Along the U.S./Mexico Border During Census 2000

Manuel de la PuenteU.S. Census Bureau2001 Summer Public Health Research Videoconference on Minority HealthJune 18-22, 2001

Objectives

• To provide an understanding of how qualitative research methods are used at the Census Bureau to improve data quality

• To provide an awareness that distinct subpopulations require uniquely tailored data collection methods in order to ensure that good quality data are obtained

Objectives

• To convey the idea that as our population becomes more heterogeneous along selected dimensions collecting survey and census data becomes difficult

• To illustrate how the Census Bureau studied border communities (colonias) during Census 2000 in order to develop and improve data collection approaches

Overview of Presentation

• A brief history of ethnographic research at the U.S. Census Bureau

• An ethnography of border communities (colonias) during Census 2000

Ethnography in the Census Bureau• History since 1971• Ethnographic Evaluation

conducted in conjunction with the 1990 Census identified and examined barriers

• In the 1990s many topics examined using ethnographic methods

Ethnography

• Captures detail and richness of human behavior

• Examines context and interconnectedness

• Stresses culture and cultural diversity

Ethnographic Methods

• Uses varied methods such as - Observation - In-depth interviews - Focus groups - Participant observation • Includes qualitative and quantitative

data

Relationship to Statistical Data• Ethnography - Explores behaviors and

beliefs that underlie statistical data - Points out problems in

data collection - Proposes solutions

Presentation on Border Communities (Colonias)• Describe research undertaken by the

Census Bureau to better understand the enumeration process in colonias

• Summarize findings from the Census 2000 ethnographic studies of 4 colonias

• Provide key findings from focus groups with census enumerators and crew leaders

Research Objectives

• Identify and examine major barriers to census enumeration in selected colonias

• Examine how the Census 2000 enumeration was executed in selected colonias

Methodology

• Ethnographic studies conducted by experienced local area ethnographers working under contract for the Census Bureau

• In-depth interviews with colonia residents

• Focus groups with colonia residents

• Focus groups with Census 2000 enumerators and crew leaders

Census 2000 Ethnographic Studies: Four Colonias• Riverside County, California

• Northern Dona Ana County, New Mexico

• Southern Dona Ana County, New Mexico

• El Paso County, Texas

Barriers to Enumeration Identified in Ethnographic Research During Census 2000• Irregular housing• Limited reading skills and little or

no knowledge of English• Concerns regarding confidentiality• Complex and fluid households

Irregular Housing

• Multiple dwellings in the same lot often with only one address

• Housing unit numbers are difficult to identify • Gates and fences often hide housing units • Housing units in very bad shape and some

appear to be vacant but are occupied• Irregular housing was not a problem in all

colonias

Limited Reading Skills and Little or no Knowledge of English• Low levels of literacy and education

resulted in difficulties in understanding the census questions

• Almost all residents spoke Spanish and many had limited knowledge of English

• Spanish language guide was not always used

Concerns Regarding Confidentiality• The mistaken belief that census

data are not confidential was a barrier for some residents

• In the El Paso County colonia the presence of cultural facilitators appears to have decreased confidentiality concerns

Complex and Fluid Households• Large households were common• Extended kin networks and

unrelated individuals were found in many households

• The movement of people and trailers in and out of colonias

Focus Groups with Census 2000 Enumerators and Crew Leaders at the Following Local Census Offices• Las Cruces, New Mexico

• Palm Springs, California

• El Paso, Texas

Objectives of Focus Groups with Enumerators and Crew Leaders• Get feedback on enumerator and

crew leader training• Obtain information, from the point

of view of enumerators and crew leaders, about Census 2000 in colonias

• Obtain information that the Census Bureau can use to improve its enumeration of colonia residents

Topics Covered in Focus Groups with Enumerators and Crew Leaders

• Enumerator training• Census materials• Enumeration areas• Colonia residents• The Census 2000 questionnaire

Enumerator Training

• No clear consensus on the quality and usefulness of enumerator training

• OJT was very popular for most participants

• Training materials should be better organized

Census Materials

• Almost all focus group participants did not like the maps provided by the Census Bureau

• Notice of visits need to be in Spanish

• Confidentiality notice was in Spanish but not easily understood by respondents

Enumeration Areas

• Irregular housing was a problem• In some areas safety was a

concern• Unpaved roads were a problem for

some enumerators• Some rural housing units were

hard to find

Colonia Residents

• Most residents wanted to participate in the census

• Enumerators agreed that some residents did not list all household members

• Awareness of Census 2000 was widespread and respondents frequently quoted the census ads

The Census 2000 Questionnaire• The long form questionnaire was a

problem• Most Spanish speaking respondents

preferred a Spanish language questionnaire

• Spanish language questionnaires were difficult to get

• Some census questions were difficult to understand

Measures that Worked Well• The local census office in Las Cruces,

NM developed an action plan for hard-to-enumerate respondents

• The local census office in El Paso, TX used cultural facilitators and the update/enumerate method

• Special efforts to hire Spanish speaking enumerators and crew leaders

• Spanish language paid advertising

Recommendations

• Consider revising training method and materials

• Use cultural facilitators in targeted areas

• Continue to use Spanish speaking enumerators

• Encourage local census offices to develop action plans for the enumeration of colonias

Recommendations

• Continue to use targeted paid advertising

• Use aerial photography to identify hard to enumerate areas and other information

• Use Spanish language census forms in areas with high concentrations of linguistically isolated Spanish speaking households

Recommendations

• Make better use of advances in IT• Conduct research that will help

determine the long range impact of Census 2000 outreach and promotion messages