The 2020 Census Evaluations and Experiments (EAE) operation consisted of four types of projects: experiments, evaluations, operational assessments, and quality profiles. Each type of project took a different approach to provide insights into the 2020 Census. For the 2020 Census EAE operation, there were ultimately 3 experiments, 13 evaluations, 47 operational assessments, and 3 quality profiles.

The 2020 Census EAE operation was among the 35 operations (or functions) that constituted the 2020 Census. It was an effort that primarily consisted of the following activities: managing decennial research governance; establishing guidelines and templates for research study plans and results documents; and capturing and managing research recommendations from experiments, evaluations, operational assessments, and quality profiles (also referred to as Recommendations Management).

Key recommendations for those planning a similar operation for the 2030 Census are as follows: define the scope (consisting of vetted research proposals) of the 2030 Census evaluations and experiments earlier in the decade to ensure that there is adequate time to incorporate any data collection, experimental, and IT requirements into 2030 Census systems and solutions; include the printing of materials for experiments within the scope of work for the production print contractor; ensure that all experimental treatments with mail materials have corresponding control panels (as opposed to using the rest of the country as the control panel); and increase engagement with internal customers (such as cross-functional teams) and external customers (such as members of the public, by soliciting feedback from them through a Federal Register notice) when formulating the scope of the 2030 Census evaluations and experiments.