Ethnographic Research at the U S Census Bureau

Ethnographic Research at the U. S. Census Bureau: The Enumeration of Border Communities Along the U. S. /Mexico Border During Census 2000 Manuel de la Puente U. S. Census Bureau 2001 Summer Public Health Research Videoconference on Minority Health June 18 -22, 2001

Objectives • To provide an understanding of how qualitative research methods are used at the Census Bureau to improve data quality • To provide an awareness that distinct subpopulations require uniquely tailored data collection methods in order to ensure that good quality data are obtained

Objectives • To convey the idea that as our population becomes more heterogeneous along selected dimensions collecting survey and census data becomes difficult • To illustrate how the Census Bureau studied border communities (colonias) during Census 2000 in order to develop and improve data collection approaches

Overview of Presentation • A brief history of ethnographic research at the U. S. Census Bureau • An ethnography of border communities (colonias) during Census 2000

Ethnography in the Census Bureau • History since 1971 • Ethnographic Evaluation conducted in conjunction with the 1990 Census identified and examined barriers • In the 1990 s many topics examined using ethnographic methods

Ethnography • Captures detail and richness of human behavior • Examines context and interconnectedness • Stresses culture and cultural diversity

Ethnographic Methods • Uses varied methods such as - Observation - In-depth interviews - Focus groups - Participant observation • Includes qualitative and quantitative data

Relationship to Statistical Data • Ethnography - Explores behaviors and beliefs that underlie statistical data - Points out problems in data collection - Proposes solutions

Presentation on Border Communities (Colonias) • Describe research undertaken by the Census Bureau to better understand the enumeration process in colonias • Summarize findings from the Census 2000 ethnographic studies of 4 colonias • Provide key findings from focus groups with census enumerators and crew leaders

Research Objectives • Identify and examine major barriers to census enumeration in selected colonias • Examine how the Census 2000 enumeration was executed in selected colonias

Methodology • Ethnographic studies conducted by experienced local area ethnographers working under contract for the Census Bureau • In-depth interviews with colonia residents • Focus groups with Census 2000 enumerators and crew leaders

Census 2000 Ethnographic Studies: Four Colonias • Riverside County, California • Northern Dona Ana County, New Mexico • Southern Dona Ana County, New Mexico • El Paso County, Texas

Barriers to Enumeration Identified in Ethnographic Research During Census 2000 • Irregular housing • Limited reading skills and little or no knowledge of English • Concerns regarding confidentiality • Complex and fluid households

Irregular Housing • Multiple dwellings in the same lot often with only one address • Housing unit numbers are difficult to identify • Gates and fences often hide housing units • Housing units in very bad shape and some appear to be vacant but are occupied • Irregular housing was not a problem in all colonias

Limited Reading Skills and Little or no Knowledge of English • Low levels of literacy and education resulted in difficulties in understanding the census questions • Almost all residents spoke Spanish and many had limited knowledge of English • Spanish language guide was not always used

Concerns Regarding Confidentiality • The mistaken belief that census data are not confidential was a barrier for some residents • In the El Paso County colonia the presence of cultural facilitators appears to have decreased confidentiality concerns

Complex and Fluid Households • Large households were common • Extended kin networks and unrelated individuals were found in many households • The movement of people and trailers in and out of colonias

Focus Groups with Census 2000 Enumerators and Crew Leaders at the Following Local Census Offices • Las Cruces, New Mexico • Palm Springs, California • El Paso, Texas

Objectives of Focus Groups with Enumerators and Crew Leaders • Get feedback on enumerator and crew leader training • Obtain information, from the point of view of enumerators and crew leaders, about Census 2000 in colonias • Obtain information that the Census Bureau can use to improve its enumeration of colonia residents

Topics Covered in Focus Groups with Enumerators and Crew Leaders • • • Enumerator training Census materials Enumeration areas Colonia residents The Census 2000 questionnaire

Enumerator Training • No clear consensus on the quality and usefulness of enumerator training • OJT was very popular for most participants • Training materials should be better organized

Census Materials • Almost all focus group participants did not like the maps provided by the Census Bureau • Notice of visits need to be in Spanish • Confidentiality notice was in Spanish but not easily understood by respondents

Enumeration Areas • Irregular housing was a problem • In some areas safety was a concern • Unpaved roads were a problem for some enumerators • Some rural housing units were hard to find

Colonia Residents • Most residents wanted to participate in the census • Enumerators agreed that some residents did not list all household members • Awareness of Census 2000 was widespread and respondents frequently quoted the census ads

The Census 2000 Questionnaire • The long form questionnaire was a problem • Most Spanish speaking respondents preferred a Spanish language questionnaire • Spanish language questionnaires were difficult to get • Some census questions were difficult to understand

Measures that Worked Well • The local census office in Las Cruces, NM developed an action plan for hard-to-enumerate respondents • The local census office in El Paso, TX used cultural facilitators and the update/enumerate method • Special efforts to hire Spanish speaking enumerators and crew leaders • Spanish language paid advertising

Recommendations • Consider revising training method and materials • Use cultural facilitators in targeted areas • Continue to use Spanish speaking enumerators • Encourage local census offices to develop action plans for the enumeration of colonias

Recommendations • Continue to use targeted paid advertising • Use aerial photography to identify hard to enumerate areas and other information • Use Spanish language census forms in areas with high concentrations of linguistically isolated Spanish speaking households

Recommendations • Make better use of advances in IT • Conduct research that will help determine the long range impact of Census 2000 outreach and promotion messages