2011 American Community Survey Internet Tests: Results from First Test in April 2011

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Currently, the American Community Survey (ACS) collects data using three modes: mailout/mailback of a paper questionnaire, Computer-Assisted Telephone Interview and Computer-Assisted Personal Interview. Sampled addresses receive the mail questionnaire first and are later contacted by Computer-Assisted Telephone Interview and then Computer-Assisted Personal Interview as part of nonresponse follow-up operations. The United States Census Bureau conducted two ACS Internet tests in 2011, one in April and one in November, to evaluate the feasibility of providing a fourth response mode, an Internet mode, to addresses selected for the ACS. The main objective of the tests was to determine the best way to present the Internet mode in the ACS mailings to maximize self-response. This report discusses the results from the first (April) test. The results from the second test will be available in the spring of 2012.

Page Last Revised - October 8, 2021