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GAO-21-206R 1 (2020-12-09)

handle is hein.gao/gaobaeccl0001 and id is 1 raw text is: A Report to Congressional Requesters The Bureau Concluded Field Work but Uncertainty about Data Quality, Accuracy, and Protection Remains This report is the fifth in a series of updates on the Census Bureau's (Bureau) 2020 Census activities and operations. This update includes information from GAO's ongoing work on the conclusion of 2020 Census field operations, selected potential indicators of quality, and changes made to response processing operations as the Bureau produces its data products. The Bureau changed the dates for completing the nonresponse follow-up (NRFU) operation and delivering data for apportionment several times between August 2020 and October 2020 in response to litigation. After receiving a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court on October 13 that allowed it to stop data collection, the Bureau announced it would conclude NRFU on October 15 and deliver data for apportionment on or shortly after December 31. At the conclusion of its data collection operations on October 15, the Bureau reported it had achieved a national enumeration rate of 99.98 percent of housing units. The Bureau reported 67.0 percent of enumerations came from self- response via internet, paper, or phone, and an additional 32.9 percent of households were enumerated during NRFU. Data Collection Operations in the Field Have Ended, but Data Quality, Accuracy, and Protection Remain Uncertain Alternative Data Collection Methods When the Bureau cannot obtain census information directly from household members, either through self-response or a completed NRFU interview, it relies on alternative methods. The Bureau's reliance on these methods may provide insight into the quality of data collected: Proxy responses. The Bureau used proxy responses-information from a neighbor or other knowledgeable person, such as a landlord or building manager, about a household-to collect data on 24.1 percent (approximately 7.4 million, based on preliminary results) of occupied households in the NRFU workload, compared to 23.8 percent (approximately 6.8 million) in 2010. Proxy responses are generally lower quality than responses directly from a household. Partial responses. The Bureau may receive a partial response for a household through self-response or a NRFU interview. For some cases, enumerators in the field are directed to obtain, at a minimum, the status of whether the household is occupied, vacant, or not a household, and the number of people in the housing unit. The number of responses with this minimal amount of data can be an indicator of the quality of data collected. The Bureau has not yet calculated the number of partial responses it received, but plans to report on it in future operational assessments. Administrative records. The 2020 Census incorporated increased use of administrative records into its design, a major cost saving innovation. Use of these records leverages information people have already provided to the federal or state government, such as the Internal Revenue Service or prior census data. The Bureau used administrative records to resolve approximately 14 percent of households (about 8.4 million) in the NRFU workload, which was less than planned. However, the Bureau decided to use United States Government Accountability Office December 2020

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