2020 Census Barriers, Attitudes, and Motivators Study Survey Report

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2020 Census Barriers, Attitudes, and Motivators Study Survey Report 2020 Census Barriers, Attitudes, and Motivators Study Survey Report A New Design for the 21st Century January 24, 2019 Version 2.0 Prepared by Kyley McGeeney, Brian Kriz, Shawnna Mullenax, Laura Kail, Gina Walejko, Monica Vines, Nancy Bates, and Yazmín García Trejo 2020 Census Research | 2020 CBAMS Survey Report Page intentionally left blank. ii 2020 Census Research | 2020 CBAMS Survey Report Table of Contents List of Tables ................................................................................................................................... iv List of Figures .................................................................................................................................. iv Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 3 Background .............................................................................................................................. 5 CBAMS I ......................................................................................................................................... 5 CBAMS II ........................................................................................................................................ 6 2020 CBAMS Survey Climate ......................................................................................................... 6 Methodology ......................................................................................................................... 11 Research Questions .................................................................................................................... 12 Sample Design ............................................................................................................................. 12 Survey Instrument ....................................................................................................................... 13 Data Collection ............................................................................................................................ 13 Response Rate ............................................................................................................................. 14 CBAMS Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) Dataset .............................................................. 17 Post-Processing ........................................................................................................................... 17 Weighting .................................................................................................................................... 17 Analysis ....................................................................................................................................... 18 Limitations ............................................................................................................................. 19 Results .................................................................................................................................... 20 Who intends to respond to the census? ..................................................................................... 21 Where do gaps in knowledge about the census exist? ............................................................... 29 What barriers would prevent people from completing the census? .......................................... 38 What would potentially motivate people to complete the census? .......................................... 56 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................ 66 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................... 68 References ............................................................................................................................. 70 Appendices ............................................................................................................................ 72 iii 2020 Census Research | 2020 CBAMS Survey Report List of Tables Table 1: 2020 CBAMS Survey Incentive Amount ......................................................................................... 14 Table 2: 2020 CBAMS Survey Mail Schedule ............................................................................................... 14 Table 3: 2020 CBAMS Survey Disposition and Frequencies......................................................................... 15 Table 4: 2020 CBAMS Survey Weighted Response Rates by Stratum ......................................................... 16 List of Figures Figure 1 2010 Census mail return rate and reported intent to respond rate from CBAMS I ....................... 7 Figure 2 Trust in public institutions over time ............................................................................................... 8 Figure 3 Trust in government over time ........................................................................................................ 9 Figure 4 Telephone survey response rates over time .................................................................................. 10 Figure 5 Census pre-NRFU mail return rates over time ............................................................................... 11 Figure 6 Intent to respond to the census. ................................................................................................... 21 Figure 7 Less educated householders were least likely to report their intention to respond to the 2020 Census. ........................................................................................................................................................ 22 Figure 8 Younger householders were least likely to report their intention to respond to the 2020 Census. .................................................................................................................................................................... 23 Figure 9 NH Asians were least likely to report their intention to respond to the census. ........................... 24 Figure 10 Older householders preferred to fill out the paper census form. ................................................ 26 Figure 11 Less educated respondents preferred to fill out the paper census form. .................................... 26 Figure 12 Seventy-five percent of sexual minority respondents either preferred an online form or had no preference ................................................................................................................................................... 27 Figure 13 Estimated time to complete a 2020 Census form. ...................................................................... 28 Figure 14 Familiarity with the census. ........................................................................................................ 29 Figure 15 More educated householders were more familiar with the census than less educated householders. .............................................................................................................................................. 30 Figure 16 Older householders were more familiar with the census than younger householders. .............. 31 Figure 17 NH Asians were least familiar with the census. .......................................................................... 32 Figure 18 Sexual minorities were more familiar with the census than straight respondents. .................... 33 Figure 19 Most people knew that the census is used to determine changes in U.S. population, but there were misconceptions about other uses. ...................................................................................................... 35 Figure 20 Respondents with less than a high school diploma knew less about the census than respondents with higher levels of education. ............................................................................................. 36 Figure 21 Respondents who are not internet proficient had lower levels of knowledge about the census than respondents who are internet proficient. ........................................................................................... 37 Figure 22 NH Black/African Americans had lower levels of knowledge about the census than other race and Hispanic origin groups. ........................................................................................................................ 38 Figure 23 Concern about confidentiality of answers to the 2020 Census. .................................................. 39 Figure 24 All racial and Hispanic-origin groups were more concerned that the Census Bureau would not keep their answers to the census confidential than NH Whites. ................................................................ 40 Figure 25 All racial and Hispanic origin groups were more concerned that the Census Bureau would share their answers with other government agencies than NH Whites. .............................................................. 41 Figure 26 Fear of repercussions from answering the 2020 Census. ............................................................ 43 Figure 27 All racial and Hispanic origin groups were more concerned their answers to the 2020 Census would be used against them than NH Whites. ..........................................................................................
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