The American Community Survey Office (ACSO) is currently conducting a series of related research projects around improving the American Community Survey (ACS) mail package and messaging toward potential ACS respondents . This research aims to increase participation rates in the ACS and address concerns about whether the ACS is too intrusive.

This quantitative Refinement telephone study of n= 1,005 US adults who generally handle the mail for their households supports those goals by providing formative research that will help ACSO decision makers develop effective messages. This study’s design and analysis draw on other completed and ongoing research projects surrounding the ACS, including the initial Benchmark phase of this study.