Measuring a Changing Nation

This final report of the Panel on Alternative Census Methodologies provides an assessment of the Census Bureau's plans for the 2000 census as of the time of the 1998 census dress rehearsal. It examines changes in census plans following, and to a modest extent in reaction to, the panel's second interim report, regarding the use of sampling for nonresponse follow-up, construction of the master address file, use of multiple response modes and respondent-friendly questionnaires, and the use of administrative records. It also describes evaluation plans for the census dress rehearsal and plans for data collection and experimentation during the 2000 census. Most of the results from the dress rehearsal were not yet available to the panel, so this report does not offer any suggested changes to 2000 census plans in response to the dress rehearsal.

• Front Matter
• Executive Summary
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Census Methodology
• 3 Reconsideration of Important Census Bureau Decisions
• 4 Evaluation of Some Common Arguments Against ICM-Based Adjustment of the Census
• 5 Research and Experimentation and Data Collection During the Census
• Glossary of Relevant Census Terms
• References
• Biographical Sketches of Panel Members and Staff