Research Reports

Project Report: Investigation of User Preferences for Measures of Sampling Error to be Displayed on American Community Survey Data Products and Modification of Definitions of these Measures

Lynn Weidman and Kathleen T. Ashenfelter

 

ABSTRACT

As part of its efforts to improve the usability of American Community Survey (ACS) data products, the Census Bureau examined two related issues associated with the presentation of information on sampling error for ACS estimates. The first issue concerned the determination of data user preference for the measure of sampling error, margin of error or confidence interval, to be displayed with estimates in ACS data products. To explore this issue, we distributed a Web survey requesting information about each user’s background in statistics, their use of ACS data products, and their preference for displaying sampling error. The sampling frame was the ACS Alert email list and subjects were recruited to take the survey via an email. The eligible response rate for the full list was 9.7 percent (324 out of 3,331 possible respondents). The results of the survey show that of those respondents who expressed a preference and do not work for the Census Bureau, 61.2 percent favored the confidence interval and 33.6 favored the margin of error. The second issue was the need for revised definitions of the terms “standard error,” “confidence interval,” and “margin of error” for use in American Factfinder (AFF). For this purpose, we examined underlying concepts for these terms as they appear in textbooks and throughout statistical literature in an effort to develop alternative definitions that were clearer and more succinct. It is anticipated that improved definitions will contribute to a better understanding of ACS data products in AFF.

CITATION: Weidman, Lynn and Ashenfelter, Kathleen T. (2009). Project Report: Investigation of User Preferences for Measures of Sampling Error to be Displayed on American Community Survey Data Products and Modification of Definitions of these Measures. Statistical Research Division Study Series (Statistics #2009-01). U.S. Census Bureau. Available online at <http://www.census.gov/srd/papers/pdf/sss2009-01.pdf>.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Statistical Research Division

Published online: September 3, 2009
Last revised: August 23, 2009