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At the time of the first interview, the Census Bureau interviewer visits sampled addresses, verifies the addresses, determines whether they contain occupied housing units, and identifies the housing units located at each address. A housing unit is defined as a living quarters with its own entrance and cooking facilities. The people living in a housing unit constitute a household (see below). Interviews are conducted at all households in sampled addresses. However, SIPP does not treat the household as a continuous unit to be followed in the panel. SIPP is a person-based survey; as discussed below, SIPP follows original sample members regardless of household composition.
The interviewer compiles a roster for each sampled household, listing all people living or staying at the address. Next, the interviewer identifies those who are household members by determining if the address is their usual residence (Table 2-3).5 SIPP designates all people who are considered members as original sample members. Over the course of the panel, original sample members are followed and interviewed every 4 months.6
| Question | YES (Is Member of Household) |
NO (Not Member of Household) |
| Person staying at SIPP address at time of interview | ||
| Members of family, visitors, etc..ordinarily sleeps here | Y | |
| – here temporarily, no living quarters held elsewhere | Y | |
| – here temporarily, living quarters held elsewhere | N | |
| In Armed Forces, stationed locally and sleeps here | Y | |
| In Armed Forces, stationed elsewhere and here on leave | N | |
| Student temporarily attending school here, living quarters held elsewhere | N | |
| – married and accompanied by own family | Y | |
| – student nurse attending school nearby | Y | |
| Absent person who usually lives at SIPP address | ||
| Inmate in an institutional special place regardless of whether living quarters are being held here | N | |
| Temporarily on vacation, in hospital, and living quarters held | Y | |
| Absent for work, living quarters held here | Y | |
| Absent for work, living quarters held here and elsewhere but comes here infrequently | N | |
| Unmarried college student working away from home during break, living quarters held here | Y | |
| In Armed Forces, stationed elsewhere | Y | |
| In school elsewhere, living quarters held.not married or with own family | Y | |
| – married and accompanied by own family | N | |
| – attending school overseas | N | |
| – student nurse living at school | N | |
| Exceptions and doubtful cases | ||
| Person with two residences, sleeps most often in other location | N | |
| Person with two concurrent residences, sleeps here most often | Y | |
| Citizen of foreign country temporarily in U.S., living on premises of an embassy, ministry, legation, chancellery, or consulate | N | |
| Citizen of foreign country temporarily in U.S..studying here and no other usual residence in U.S. | Y | |
| – living and working here and no other usual residence in U.S. | Y | |
| – visiting or traveling in U.S. | N | |
Source: SIPP Information Booklet, 1990 Panel (Waves 1.8) and 1991 Panel (Waves 1.8), Form SIPP-7004A (1-9-89).
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4In a few cases, where the clusters contain many more housing units than expected, a subsample of addresses is
selected.
5In most cases, a person is a member of a household if the sample unit is that person's usual place of residence at the
time of the interview. The person may be present or temporarily absent. A person staying in the sample unit who has
no usual place of residence elsewhere is a household member. A usual place of residence is the place where a person
normally lives and sleeps. This must be specific living quarters held for the person to which he or she is free to
return at any time.
6 In the 1993 Panel only, SIPP followed all original sample members regardless of age. Previous panels, as well as
the 1996 Panel, have followed only people 15 years of age or older who were original sample members.
Sample Design Organizing Principles Selection of Sampling Units Oversampling Principles Following Rules Interview Procedures Types of Nonresponse
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Page Last Modified: May 9, 2006
