Appendix B | Table of Contents |
This classification provides a minimum standard for maintaining, collecting, and presenting data on race and ethnicity for all Federal reporting purposes. The categories in this classification are social-political constructs and should not be interpreted as being scientific or anthropological in nature. They are not to be used as determinants of eligibility for participation in any Federal program. The standards have been developed to provide a common language for uniformity and comparability in the collection and use of data on race and ethnicity by Federal agencies.
The standards have five categories for data on race: American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and White. There are two categories for data on ethnicity: "Hispanic or Latino," and "Not Hispanic or Latino."
The minimum categories for data on race and ethnicity for Federal statistics, program administrative reporting, and civil rights compliance reporting are defined as follows:
Respondents shall be offered the option of selecting one or more racial designations. Recommended forms for the instruction accompanying the multiple response question are "Mark one or more" and "Select one or more."
The standards provide two formats that may be used for data on race and
ethnicity. Self-reporting or self-identification using two separate questions
is the preferred method for collecting data on race and ethnicity. In situations
where self-reporting is not practicable or feasible, the combined format
may be used.
In no case shall the provisions of the standards be construed to limit the
collection of data to the categories described above. The collection of greater
detail is encouraged; however, any collection that uses more detail shall
be organized in such a way that the additional categories can be aggregated
into these minimum categories for data on race and ethnicity.
With respect to tabulation, the procedures used by Federal agencies shall
result in the production of as much detailed information on race and ethnicity
as possible. However, Federal agencies shall not present data on detailed
categories if doing so would compromise data quality or confidentiality
standards.
To provide flexibility and ensure data quality, separate questions shall be used wherever feasible for reporting race and ethnicity. When race and ethnicity shall be collected first. If race and ethnicity are collected separately, the minimum designations are:
Race:
Ethnicity:
When data on race and ethnicity are collected separately, provision shall be made to report the number of respondents in each racial category who are Hispanic or Latino.
When aggregate data are presented, data producers shall provide the number of respondents who marked (or selected) only one category, separately for each of the five racial categories. In addition to these numbers, data producers are strongly encouraged to provide the detailed distributions, including all possible combinations, of multiple responses to the race question. If data on multiple responses are collapsed, at a minimum the total number of respondents reporting "more than one race" shall be made available.
The combined format may be used, if necessary, for observer-collected data on race and ethnicity. Both race (including multiple responses) and ethnicity shall be collected when appropriate and feasible, although the selection of one category in the combined format is acceptable. If a combined format is used, there are six minimum categories:
When aggregate data are presented, data producers shall provide the number of respondents who marked (or selected) only one category, separately for each of the six categories. In addition, to these numbers, data producers are strongly encouraged to provide the detailed distributions, including all possible combinations, of multiple responses. In cases where data on multiple responses are collapsed, the total number of respondents reporting "more than one race" (regardless of ethnicity) shall be provided.
The minimum standard categories shall be used for reporting as follows:
Displays of statistical, administrative, and compliance data on race and
ethnicity shall use the categories listed above. The term "nonwhite" is not
acceptable for use in the presentation of Federal Government data. It shall
not be used in any publication or in the text of any report.
In cases where the standard categories are considered inappropriate for
presentation of data on particular programs or for particular regional areas,
the sponsoring agency may use:
In displaying detailed information that represents a combination of race
and ethnicity, the description of the data being displayed shall clearly
indicate that both bases of classification are being used.
When the primary focus of a report is on two or more specific identifiable groups in the population, on e or more of which is racial or ethnic, it is acceptable to display data for each of the particular groups separately and to describe data relating to the remainder of the population by an appropriate collective description.
The provisions of these standards are effective immediately for all new and revised record keeping or reporting requirements that include racial and/or ethnic information. All existing record keeping or reporting requirements shall be made consistent with these standards at the time they are submitted for extension, or not later than January 1, 2003.
Appendix B | Table of Contents |
Table of Contents of
Report
Content of Report
Sources of Information
Particular Issues Relating to Content of the
Inventory
Home Pages:
Human Services Policy
(HSP)
Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
(ASPE)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Last updated 02/06/04