Overview of

Gemini Project 

Kathy Downey

Division of Consumer Expenditure Survey

July 17, 2012

Survey Methods Symposium
Presentation 

Overview

1. Project overview

2. Motivation for redesign

3. Project tasks 

4. Current teams

5. Activities to date

6. Upcoming activities

7. Related research

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Project Overview

Mission

Improve data quality through a verifiable 

reduction in measurement error, with a 

particular focus on under-reporting. 

Objective

Develop a detailed research plan for 

implementing a redesign of the CE surveys,

including piloting, evaluation, and 

transition.

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Motivation for 

Redesign (1)

 Evidence of measurement error

Declining ratios of aggregate expenditure estimates 

from the CE compared with Personal Consumption 

Expenditures (PCE)

The 2008 CE Program Review Report cites item 

nonresponse and measurement error as areas of

concern

Subgroup comparisons show differences in 

expenditure reporting by mode of interview and use 

of recall aids

Possibly due to complexity, conditioning, proxy 

reporting, recall error, survey length, mode effects

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Motivation for 

Redesign (2)

 Technological advances

Transformation of respondent behavior

Emergence of new data collection options

 Need for more flexibility

Allow for faster implementation of 

questionnaire changes 

Allow for mixed-mode interviewing

 Same basic design for past 30 years

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Overview of 

Project Tasks (1)

1. *Produce database of CE research

2. *Refine data requirements and priorities

3. *Define data quality for CE

4. *Sponsor internal and external events for 

information gathering and expert review

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*completed
Overview of 

Project Tasks (2)

5. Conduct research

6. Recommend a survey redesign 

7. Assess user impact of design alternatives

8. Propose a transition roadmap

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Project Tasks 

by Year

Year Tasks

2009-10 (1) Research database

(2) Data requirements and priorities

(3) Data quality definition

2010-12 (4) Hold research events, produce reports

2010-13 (5) Conduct ongoing supporting research

2013 (6) Recommend survey redesign

(7) Assess user impact of design alternatives

(8) Propose transition roadmap

2014+ Piloting

Evaluation

Transition

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Current Gemini Teams

 Gemini Design Team 

Joint Census-BLS, Kick-off this week

 Gemini Sampling Team I

 Gemini Technology Team 

Joint Census-BLS, Just finished

 OPLC (Office of Prices and Living Conditions) 

Requirements Team

Joint CE-Consumer Price Index (CPI) plus Division of

Price and Index Number Research (DPINR)

 Small-scale Redesign Team 

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Activities To Date: 

Reports (1)

Date Report

Oct 2009 Data Quality Definition Report

Mar 2010 Research Project Tracking System Report

Jun 2010 CPI Requirements Paper

Aug 2010 Conference Team Report

Aug 2010 Data User Needs Report 

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Activities To Date: 

Reports (2)

Date Report

Mar 2010 Methods Workshop Report

May 2011 Revised Vision Document

May 2011 CE Data Requirements Report

Aug 2011 Household Survey Producers Workshop

Assessment

Dec 2011 Redesign Options Workshop papers

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Activities To Date: 

Reports (3)

Date Report

Jun 2012 Gemini Technology Team Report

July 2012 Revised Vision Document

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Activities To Date: 

Events and Contracts (1)

Date Event

Jan 2010 Survey Redesign Panel

Mar 2010 Data Capture Technology Forum

May 2010 Panel on Respondent Record Use

Jun 2010 Data User Needs Forum

Sept 2010 Contract with the Committee on National 

Statistics (CNSTAT) Expert Panel awarded

Dec 2010 Methods Workshop 13
Activities To Date: 

Events and Contracts (2)

Date Event

Feb 2011 CNSTAT Expert Panel First Meeting

Jun 2011 Household Survey Producers Workshop

Oct 2011 Redesign Options Workshop

Jan 2012 CNSTAT Expert Panel Fourth Meeting

Jun 2012 Contract for Independent Redesign Proposals II

awarded

Jul 2012 Survey Methods Symposium (this event)

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Upcoming Activities

Date Event

Aug 2012 CNSTAT Panel Recommendations (pre-pub report)

Fall 2012 OPLC Requirements Team Report; Gemini 

Sampling Team II Report; CNSTAT presentation of

recommendations

Win 2012 Independent Redesign Proposals II presentations

Spr 2013 Independent Redesign Proposals II Report

Spr 2013 Gemini Design Team proposal

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Related Research

 Already covered by Adam in previous 

presentation

 Joint efforts

BLS Division of Consumer Expenditure Survey 

BLS Office of Survey Methods Research

Census Bureau

 Mostly the same people involved in 

research projects and Gemini

 30+ completed projects since ~2009 and 

17 ongoing 16
Project Website

http://www.bls.gov/cex/geminimaterials.htm

Information available on:

Gemini overview

Gemini events

Gemini presentations

CE survey methods research

CE methods and survey forms

Other redesign related events and studies

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Contact Information

Kathy Downey, Gemini Project Manager

Downey.kathy@bls.gov

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