Appendix D. Desired and Acceptable Coefficients of Variation (CVs) for Estimates of the S&E Population
Group of interest |
Desired CV (%) |
Acceptable CV (%) |
1997 SESTAT integrated database CV (%) |
|
Total population |
0.1 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
|
|
|
|
Highest degree level |
|
|
|
Associate |
1.0 |
1.5 |
N/A |
Bachelor |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
Master |
0.4 |
0.6 |
0.8 |
Doctorate |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.8 |
Professional |
1.0 |
1.5 |
1.6 |
|
|
|
|
Race/ethnicity |
|
|
|
Hispanic |
0.8 |
1.0 |
1.6 |
White |
0.8 |
1.0 |
0.2 |
Black |
0.8 |
1.0 |
1.3 |
Asian/Pacific Islander |
0.8 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
Other |
3.0 |
As it falls out based on sampling |
5.7 for American Indian/Alaska Native |
|
|
|
|
Citizenship |
|
|
|
U.S.citizen – native |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
U.S. citizen – naturalized |
1.5 |
1.5 |
1.6 |
Non-U.S. citizen, permanent resident |
1.5 |
1.5 |
2.8 |
Non-U.S. citizen, temporary resident |
3.0 |
As it falls out based on sampling |
5.6 |
|
|
|
|
Sex |
|
|
|
Female |
0.1 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
Male |
0.2 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
|
|
|
|
Age cohort |
|
|
|
<30 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
1.2 |
30–39 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
0.8 |
40–49 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
0.7 |
50–59 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
60–75 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
1.2 |
|
|
|
|
Disability status |
|
|
|
Nondisabled |
1.0 |
1.5 |
0.2 |
Disabled |
As it falls out based on sampling |
As it falls out based on sampling |
1.6 |
|
|
|
|
Employer sector |
|
|
|
Education |
1.0 |
1.0 |
1.1 |
Government |
1.0 |
1.0 |
1.3 |
Business/industry |
As it falls out based on sampling |
As it falls out based on sampling |
0.4 |
|
|
|
|
Broad field of highest degree |
|
|
|
Mathematics and computer sciences |
0.3 |
0.5 |
1.0 |
Life sciences |
0.3 |
0.5 |
0.8 |
Physical sciences |
0.3 |
0.5 |
1.0 |
Social sciences |
0.3 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
Engineering |
0.3 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
Non-S&E fields |
— |
— |
0.9 |
S&E related |
2.5 |
3.5 |
— |
|
|
|
|
Broad category of occupation |
|
|
|
Mathematicians and computer scientists |
1.5 |
2.5 |
1.2 |
Life scientists |
1.5 |
2.5 |
2.2 |
Physical scientists |
1.5 |
2.5 |
2.2 |
Social scientists |
1.5 |
2.5 |
2.4 |
Engineers |
1.5 |
2.5 |
0.9 |
Non-S&E occupations |
— |
— |
0.5 |
S&E managers |
2.0 |
3.0 |
a |
Other managers |
2.5 |
3.5 |
a |
Health-related occupations |
1.5 |
2.5 |
1.9b |
Precollege teachers |
2.5 |
3.5 |
2.1b |
Non-S&E postsecondary teachers |
2.5 |
3.5 |
5.1b |
Technicians |
2.0 |
3.0 |
2.9b |
Other occupations |
3.0 |
4.0 |
— |
|
— = not a design objective.
a This population cannot be specifically identified in current database.
b This CV is limited to the current SESTAT population definition.
SOURCE: National Science Foundation, Division of Science Resources Statistics, staff recommendations 2006.