This is interesting. I recall hearing this guidance in the past. However on the Census website on the ACS page it specifically states; “Generally, you can compare American Community Survey (ACS) 3-year and 5-year estimates with Census 2000 data. There are differences in the universe, question wording, residence rules, reference periods, and the way in which the data are tabulated which can impact comparability.”
The qualifier in the second sentence addresses the conflict (different methods, time periods etc) but I can’t find anywhere on the ACS pages where the Census recommends we not compare ACS to decennial Census. And when I search by subject the Journey to Work topic states that I can ‘Compare’ it to the 2000 Census.
It does specifically state not to compare overlapping years on multiyear estimates.
Kendra Watkins
Senior Data Analyst
Mid-Region Council of Governments
809 Copper Ave. NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
Phone: (505)724-3601
Fax: (505)247-1753
Email: kwatkins@mrcog-nm.gov
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From: ctpp-news-bounces@chrispy.net [mailto:ctpp-news-bounces@chrispy.net] On Behalf Of Weinberger, Penelope
Sent: Monday, January 31, 2011 8:41 AM
To: ctpp-news@chrispy.net
Subject: RE: [CTPP] 2000 and 2006-08 work trip comparison question.
The CB does not recommend comparing an ACS based data set to a CB Long Form based data set. The 2000 data represent a point in time estimate, the ACS data represent a period estimate. Furthermore, the Census Bureau recommends not comparing period estimates with overlapping years.
Penelope Weinberger
CTPP Program Manager
AASHTO
202-624-3556
http://ctpp.transportation.org/Pages/default.aspx
It's just as bad to not make a plan as to blindly follow the one you already have.
From: ctpp-news-bounces@chrispy.net [mailto:ctpp-news-bounces@chrispy.net] On Behalf Of Seidensticker, Dan
Sent: Friday, January 28, 2011 4:18 PM
To: (ctpp-news@chrispy.net)
Subject: [CTPP] 2000 and 2006-08 work trip comparison question.
We downloaded the2006-2008 ACS county-to-county worker flow for Dane County, Wisconsin from http://ctpp.transportation.org/Pages/3yrdas.aspx.
The question we now have…can that data be compared to the county-to-county 2000 CTPP work trips to determine any statistically significant increase/decrease? If so, how would one calculate the margin of error?
Dan Seidensticker
GIS Specialist
Madison Area Transportation Planning Board:
A Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)
City of Madison Planning Unit
121 S. Pinckney Street, Suite 400
Madison, WI 53703
Voice: 608-266-9119
Fax: 608-261-9967
Email: dseidensticker@cityofmadison.com
www.MadisonAreaMPO.org