Coefficient
of Variation (CV) - Also called relative standard error;
estimated standard error expressed as a percent of the estimated
total or proportion; the standard error of the estimate times
100 divided by the value being estimated.
Confidence
Interval (CI) - A range about a given estimator that
has a specified probability of containing the average of the
estimates for the parameter derived from all possible samples
of the same size and design. Associated with each interval is
a percentage of confidence, which is interpreted as follows.
If, for each possible sample, an estimate of a population parameter
and its approximate standard error were obtained and using a
t-statistic with 15 (16 random groups-1) degrees of freedom,
then:
For 90% confidence, the CI will range from 1.753*SE below
to 1.753*SE above the estimate; includes the average of
the estimates derived from all possible samples of the same
size and design.
For 95% confidence, the CI will range from 2.132*SE below
to 2.132*SE above the estimate; includes the average of
the estimates derived from all possible samples of the same
size and design.
Confidentiality
- Title 13 of the US Code authorizes the Census Bureau to conduct
censuses and surveys. Section 9 requires that any information
collected under the authority of Title 13 be kept confidential.
Section 214 and Title 18: Sections 3559 and 3571 state that
wrongful disclosure of such information are punishable by up
to 5 years in prison and $250,000 in fines. Title 13 prohibits
disclosing information of any individual firm. The Census Bureau’s
internal Disclosure Review Board sets the confidentiality rules
for all data releases. A checklist approach is used to ensure
that all potential risks to the confidentiality of the data
are considered and addressed.
Disclosure
- In accordance with federal law governing Census reports, publication
of any data which would disclose the operations of an individual
establishment or business organization must be withheld from
publication.
E-Commerce
- The sale of products and services where the buyer places an
order, or the price and terms of the sale are negotiated over
an Electronic Data Interchange, the Internet, or any other online
system (extranet, e-mail, instant messaging). Payment may or
may not be made online.
Economic
Census - A mandatory survey held every 5 years
during years that end with a 2 or 7. For example, 1992, 1997,
2002, 2007, and so forth. This survey asks for revenue in details.
Data provided then factors into indicators of the nation's economic
statistics and performance like Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Electronic
Data Interchange (EDI) - The exchange of standardized
e-documents between organizations from one computer application
in one organization to an application in another.
Electronic Reporting - An online alternative to filling out surveys
mandated by the Census Bureau. All sensitive information entered
is fully encrypted at all times. Currently available for Quarterly
Services Survey (QSS), the Services Annual Survey (SAS), and
Economic Census. For more information, refer to the Business Help Site Electronic
Reporting page.
Employer Identification
Number (EIN) - A nine-digit number used by the Internal
Revenue Service (IRS) for any legal entity that is required
to file a federal tax return.
Establishment
- A single physical location where business is conducted, or
where services are performed.
Firm - A business
organization or entity consisting of one or more domestic establishment
locations under common ownership or control.
Horvitz-Thompson Estimates -
Estimates computed by summing weighted data (reported or imputed)
where the weight for a given unit is the reciprocal of its probability
of being selected into the sample.
Imputation
- The process used to tabulate sales, receipts, and inventories
data for non-response cases.
Multiunit
Firms - Firms with two or more establishments.
Nonresponse
- The inability to obtain all the intended measurements or responses
about all selected units. There are two types:
Unit
nonresponse - The inability to obtain any of the
substantive measurements about a sampled unit.
Item
nonresponse - Occurs either when a question is unanswered
or the response to the question fails computer or analyst
edits.
Nonsampling
Error - One of two types of errors in estimates from
sample surveys; caused by indirect factors like:
Misreporting Miscoding or miskeying responses Misinterpreted
questions Nonresponse Other errors of collection, response,
coverage, or processing
Privacy Act - A 1974 Federal Act that protects
the privacy of personal information that the government has
on file. The act places restrictions on the collection, use,
maintenance, and release of information about individuals.
Quarterly Services Survey (QSS) - A voluntary
quarterly survey that collects estimates of revenue from firms
in service industries. This supplements Services Annual Survey
(SAS).
Sample -
All firms selected for a specific survey.
Sampling
Error - One of two types of errors in estimates from
sample surveys; difference between the estimate and the result
that would be obtained from a complete census conducted under
the same survey conditions; occur because observations are made
on a sample, not on the entire population.
Sampling
Variance - The squared difference, averaged over all
possible samples of the same size and design, between the estimator
and its average value.
Service Annual Survey (SAS) - A mandatory
annual survey that collects estimates of operating revenue,
operating expense, and inventory from firms in service industries.
This supplements the Economic Census.
Standard
Error (SE) - Measure
of the variation among the estimates from all possible samples;
measure of the precision with which an estimate from a particular
sample approximates the average results of all possible samples;
square root of the sampling variance.
Title 13
- Title 13 is the legal authority for the Census Bureau's programs.
The Census Bureau's authority is founded on the United States
constitution and Title 13. The data collected by the Census
Bureau provide for the foundation on which our democratic system
of government is based and are the leading source of quality
data about the nation's economy and people. To fulfill its mission,
the Census Bureau must collect quality data and distribute it
in a way that preserves usefulness while protecting privacy
and confidentiality.
Title 26
- Title 26 Internal Revenue Code provides for the conditions
under which the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may disclose
Federal Tax Returns and Return Information (FTI) to other agencies.
Specifically, 26, U.S.C. 6103 (j) (1) provides for the disclosure
of FTI to the Census Bureau for statistical purposes in the
structuring of censuses and national economic accounts, as well
as for conducting related statistical activities authorized
by law.
Total Error
- The total error of an estimate based on a sample survey is
the difference between the estimate and the true population
value that it estimates; sampling and nonsampling error combined.
The true population value is usually unknown.
Weight -
The weight indicates the approximate number of firms in the
survey's universe represented by the selected firm. For example,
an EIN selected with a weight of 21.000 represents itself and
20 similar businesses (in terms of NAICS and size) in the survey's
universe
Source: U.S. Census Bureau | Services | (888) 211-5946 |
Last Revised:
June 07, 2012