6 Apr
2000
6 Apr
'00
2:42 p.m.
Ed -- The following is in response to the CTPP listserve question about
the request for Social Security Numbers on some decennial census
questionnaires.
Randall Neugebauer of the Planning, Research, and Evaluation Division,
U.S. Census Bureau, provided me with the following information on the
SSN, Privacy Attitudes, and Notification (SPAN) experiment.
The SPAN is one of three panel experiments taking place concurrently
with Census 2000. Each experiment looks at innovative methodologies
and/or technologies that might be considered for 2010. Use of
administrative records is one such notion being considered and tied to
it is the collection and use of the SSN as a "match" key. The SPAN
gathers data as to respondent behavior in providing the SSN. A total of
21,000 households of the mailout/mailback universe received a short form
requesting the SSN. The cover letter, however, explains that providing
it is voluntary. Attached is a current list of Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs) for the SPAN experiment, which I believe will address
your immediate concerns. These FAQs are being used by our telephone
questionnaire assistance operators to field questions on the SSN and
other topics related to the SPAN experiment.
(Ed's note: I converted the file to an RTF format. if your have
problems with it let me know.)