# Presentation: 797532

## Accessing and Using Language Data from the Census Bureau

- Prepared for the 2007 Federal Interagency Conference on Limited English Proficiency
- March 15, 2007
- Deborah H. Griffin and Hyon B. Shin,
- U.S. Census Bureau

## Overview

- Language Data Background
- Census 2000 Methodology
- American Community Survey Methodology
- Language-Related Data Products
- Accessing 2005 American Community Survey Data
- Summary

## Language Data BackgroundQuestions Asked in Census Data Collections

- Language Spoken at Home
- Does this person speak a language other than English at home?
- What is this language?
- Ability to Speak English
- How well does this person speak English?

## Language Data BackgroundQuestions Asked – ACS Example

## Language Data BackgroundProcessing of Language Spoken at Home

- Language write-ins are coded to about 380 detailed language categories.
- We use the standard classification list of 39 categories for detailed language groups
- Most tables collapse into the 4 major language groups

**Notes:**
We use the standard classification list of 39 categories, showing data for specific languages with the most numerous speakers.

Four groups include
Spanish
Other indo European languages
Asian and Pacific islander languages
All other languages

## Language Data BackgroundQuestions Asked – Ability to Speak English

- In 1982, the U.S. Census Bureau fielded the English Language Proficiency Survey (ELPS) and concluded that those who spoke English less than “very well” had some difficulty with the tests administered in the ELPS
- No study has been conducted to measure the performance of the Census/ACS question on English-speaking ability since the 1982 ELPS

**Notes:**
Concluded that based on the four English-speaking ability categories, those who spoke English less than “very well” had some difficulty with the tests administered in the ELPS

## Language Data BackgroundQuestions Asked – Ability to Speak English

- English-speaking ability represents the person’s own perception about his or her English-speaking ability.
- The Census Bureau does not define Limited English Proficiency or non-Limited English Proficient populations

## Census 2000 Methodology

- In Census 2000, a sample of about 1-in-6 households received a “long form” that included these questions
- Statistics were produced from this sample for a broad set of geographic areas as small as census tracts and block groups

**Notes:**
No sample data or “long form” in 2010 Census

## 2010 Census and American Community Survey Methodology

- 2010 Census focus is on the count and basic demographics (short form only)
- The sample data, historically collected on the “long form” in the census, are now collected throughout the decade in the ACS
- ACS samples about 3 million addresses each year

## American Community Survey Methodology

- ACS uses three modes of data collection –
- 	mail, phone, and personal visit
- Data are collected continuously throughout the year
- High levels of quality have been demonstrated

## American Community Survey Methodology

- 5-years of sample are needed to produce  estimates comparable to the 2000 Census long form sample products
- These estimates will cover same small areas as Census 2000 with slightly smaller sample sizes

## American Community Survey Methodology

- ACS 5-year estimates are period estimates, describing the average characteristics over this 5-year period
- ACS also releases 3-year and 1-year estimates for larger geographic areas with sufficient sample sizes

## American Community Survey Methodology

## American Community SurveySimilarities with Census 2000

- Same questions and many of the same basic statistics
- Data will be produced for same broad set of geographic areas including census tracts and block groups

## American Community SurveyKey Differences from Census 2000

- Beginning in 2010, data for small geographic areas will be produced every year versus once every 10 years
- Data for larger areas are available now or will be available in 2008

## American Community SurveyKey Differences from Census 2000

- 2000 data described a point in time (April 1st) while ACS data describe a period of time and require averaging data for 12 months, 36 months, or 60 months
- Smaller sample size for 5-year ACS estimates when compared with 2000 sample results in reductions in reliability of estimates – therefore important to consider margins of error

## Language-Related Data Products

- Products include estimates of the population 5 years and over who speak a language other than English at home, by language spoken
- Some tables cross these data by Ability to Speak English
- Other tables cross these data by demographics such as age and nativity

## Language-Related Data Products

- Variety of estimates and products produced, detail dependent on sample size
- 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year ACS products will differ in detail
- Census 2000 and ACS release detailed tables,  thematic maps, and special tabulations

## Language-Related Data ProductsThematic Map

## Language-Related Data ProductsSpecial Tabulations

- Full list of Census 2000 Special Tabulations is available at http://www.census.gov/mp/www/spectab/specialtab.html
- List of Census 2000 Language Use data products, including special tabulations of language data, is available at
- 	http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/lang_use.html

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## Language-Related Data ProductsComparison of ACS and Census 2000 Language Use Tables

- ACS website will provide information to “map” Census 2000 tables to ACS tables
- Some Census 2000 tables will not exist for
- 	1-year estimates or will exist in a collapsed format

## Accessing 2005 ACS Data

- The next set of slides will demonstrate how a data user (you) can access the wealth of data available from the American FactFinder (AFF) website.
- You can use AFF for Census 2000, the ACS, the Puerto Rico Community Survey, and other surveys.

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**Notes:**
CHANGE THIS SLIDE FROM HOME – need to match the size of the other presentations.

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## Downloading 2005 ACS Data

- The next set of slides will demonstrate how a you can download the selected tables onto your computer.
- You can use a spreadsheet program to combine and compare categories, create percentages, etc.

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## Summary

- Easy to access  ACS data using American FactFinder from _[www.census.](http://www.census.gov/)__[gov](http://www.census.gov/)_
- ACS data are available now for areas with populations of 65,000 and greater and will be available in 2008 for areas with populations of 20,000 and greater
- In 2010 the ACS will release data for the smallest geographic areas

## Contact Information

- Deborah H. Griffin
- 301.763.2855
- _[Deborah.H.Griffin@census.gov](mailto:Deborah.H.Griffin@census.gov)_
- Hyon B. Shin
- 301.763.6169
- _[Hyon.B.Shin@census.gov](mailto:Hyon.B.Shin@census.gov)_