Recent developments in electronic data collection at the U. S. Census Bureau

This paper discusses in detail issues dealing with the technical aspects of designing and conducting surveys. It is intended for an audience of survey methodologists.

Since 1996, the Census Bureau has been creating Web Computerized Self-Administered Questionnaires (CSAQs). These electronic questionnaires have some data quality advantages over paper questionnaires such as the availability of online help; pre-loaded data; the use of interactive edits (which allows respondents to correct their responses as they are entered); and, for establishment surveys, the ability to import data from spreadsheets. This paper provides an overview of the Census Bureau's Web CSAQs. Each of the Web CSAQ design features promoting data quality are explained, as well as the features that impose data quality obstacles. Finally, some recent, empirical, data quality results from both establishment and household surveys are presented.