At the request of the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Research Council''sCommittee on National Statistics established the Panel on Research on FutureCensus Methods to review the early planning process for the 2010 census. This newreport documents the panel''s strong support for the major aims of the CensusBureau''s emerging plan for 2010. At the same time, it notes the considerable challengesthat must be overcome if the bureau''s innovations are to be successful. Thepanel agrees with the Census Bureau that implementation of the AmericanCommunity Survey and, with it, the separation of the long form from the censusprocess are excellent concepts. Moreover, it concurs that the critically importantMaster Address File and TIGER geographic systems are in dire need of comprehensiveupdating and that new technologies have the potential to improve the accuracyof the count. The report identifies the risks and rewards of these and other componentsof the Census Bureau''s plan. The report emphasizes the need for the bureau tolink its research and evaluation efforts much more closely to operational planningand the importance of funding for a comprehensive and rigorous testing programbefore 2010.

The Panel on Research on Future Census Methods has a broad charge to review the early planning process for the 2010 census. Its work includes observing the operation of the 2000 census, deriving lessons for 2010, and advising on effective evaluations and tests. This is the panel''s third report; they have previously issued an interim report offering suggestions on the Census Bureau''s evaluation plan for 2000 and a letter report commenting on the bureau''s proposed general structure for the 2010 census.

The Panel on Research on Future Census Methods was formed to examine alternative designs for the 2010 census and to assist the Census Bureau in planning tests and analyses to help assess and compare the advantages and disadvantages of them. Designing the 2010 Census: First Interim Report, examines whether the auxiliary information that is planned to be collected (and retained) during the 2000 census could be augmented to help guide the Census Bureau in its assessment of alternative designs for the 2010 census.

The Panel on Research on Future Census Methods was formed to examine alternative designs for the 2010 census and to assist the Census Bureau in planning tests and analyses to help assess and compare the advantages and disadvantages of them. Designing the 2010 Census: First Interim Report, examines whether the auxiliary information that is planned to be collected (and retained) during the 2000 census could be augmented to help guide the Census Bureau in its assessment of alternative designs for the 2010 census.

The Panel on Research on Future Census Methods has a broad charge to review the early planning process for the 2010 census. Its work includes observing the operation of the 2000 census, deriving lessons for 2010, and advising on effective evaluations and tests. This is the panel''s third report; they have previously issued an interim report offering suggestions on the Census Bureau''s evaluation plan for 2000 and a letter report commenting on the bureau''s proposed general structure for the 2010 census.

At the request of the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Research Council''sCommittee on National Statistics established the Panel on Research on FutureCensus Methods to review the early planning process for the 2010 census. This newreport documents the panel''s strong support for the major aims of the CensusBureau''s emerging plan for 2010. At the same time, it notes the considerable challengesthat must be overcome if the bureau''s innovations are to be successful. Thepanel agrees with the Census Bureau that implementation of the AmericanCommunity Survey and, with it, the separation of the long form from the censusprocess are excellent concepts. Moreover, it concurs that the critically importantMaster Address File and TIGER geographic systems are in dire need of comprehensiveupdating and that new technologies have the potential to improve the accuracyof the count. The report identifies the risks and rewards of these and other componentsof the Census Bureau''s plan. The report emphasizes the need for the bureau tolink its research and evaluation efforts much more closely to operational planningand the importance of funding for a comprehensive and rigorous testing programbefore 2010.

At the request of the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Research Council''sCommittee on National Statistics established the Panel on Research on FutureCensus Methods to review the early planning process for the 2010 census. This newreport documents the panel''s strong support for the major aims of the CensusBureau''s emerging plan for 2010. At the same time, it notes the considerable challengesthat must be overcome if the bureau''s innovations are to be successful. Thepanel agrees with the Census Bureau that implementation of the AmericanCommunity Survey and, with it, the separation of the long form from the censusprocess are excellent concepts. Moreover, it concurs that the critically importantMaster Address File and TIGER geographic systems are in dire need of comprehensiveupdating and that new technologies have the potential to improve the accuracyof the count. The report identifies the risks and rewards of these and other componentsof the Census Bureau''s plan. The report emphasizes the need for the bureau tolink its research and evaluation efforts much more closely to operational planningand the importance of funding for a comprehensive and rigorous testing programbefore 2010.

The Panel on Research on Future Census Methods has a broad charge to review the early planning process for the 2010 census. Its work includes observing the operation of the 2000 census, deriving lessons for 2010, and advising on effective evaluations and tests. This is the panel''s third report; they have previously issued an interim report offering suggestions on the Census Bureau''s evaluation plan for 2000 and a letter report commenting on the bureau''s proposed general structure for the 2010 census.

The Panel on Research on Future Census Methods was formed to examine alternative designs for the 2010 census and to assist the Census Bureau in planning tests and analyses to help assess and compare the advantages and disadvantages of them. Designing the 2010 Census: First Interim Report, examines whether the auxiliary information that is planned to be collected (and retained) during the 2000 census could be augmented to help guide the Census Bureau in its assessment of alternative designs for the 2010 census.

The Panel on Research on Future Census Methods was formed to examine alternative designs for the 2010 census and to assist the Census Bureau in planning tests and analyses to help assess and compare the advantages and disadvantages of them. Designing the 2010 Census: First Interim Report, examines whether the auxiliary information that is planned to be collected (and retained) during the 2000 census could be augmented to help guide the Census Bureau in its assessment of alternative designs for the 2010 census.

The Panel on Research on Future Census Methods has a broad charge to review the early planning process for the 2010 census. Its work includes observing the operation of the 2000 census, deriving lessons for 2010, and advising on effective evaluations and tests. This is the panel''s third report; they have previously issued an interim report offering suggestions on the Census Bureau''s evaluation plan for 2000 and a letter report commenting on the bureau''s proposed general structure for the 2010 census.

At the request of the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Research Council''sCommittee on National Statistics established the Panel on Research on FutureCensus Methods to review the early planning process for the 2010 census. This newreport documents the panel''s strong support for the major aims of the CensusBureau''s emerging plan for 2010. At the same time, it notes the considerable challengesthat must be overcome if the bureau''s innovations are to be successful. Thepanel agrees with the Census Bureau that implementation of the AmericanCommunity Survey and, with it, the separation of the long form from the censusprocess are excellent concepts. Moreover, it concurs that the critically importantMaster Address File and TIGER geographic systems are in dire need of comprehensiveupdating and that new technologies have the potential to improve the accuracyof the count. The report identifies the risks and rewards of these and other componentsof the Census Bureau''s plan. The report emphasizes the need for the bureau tolink its research and evaluation efforts much more closely to operational planningand the importance of funding for a comprehensive and rigorous testing programbefore 2010.