Puerto Rico Named as Test Site in Preparation for the 2020 Census

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• USA - español

WASHINGTON, April 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that it plans to conduct a test census in selected areas within Puerto Rico beginning February 2017. The Census Bureau will test new technologies, operations and procedures for the 2020 Census of Puerto Rico.

The test will take place in three municipios within the San Juan metro area. Approximately 123,000 housing units within Carolina, Loíza and Trujillo Alto will participate in this test.

The Census Bureau selected these municipios because residents who live in these areas are likely to use a variety of response options including the Internet, mobile devices, paper questionnaires and telephone. Additionally, the Census Bureau will further test and refine the address canvass operation. 

Conducting this test will require hiring temporary census staff. The Census Bureau will begin recruiting in October 2016. More information will be available then on census.gov.

The Road to the 2020 Census

This test supports the goal of the 2020 Census, which is to count everyone once, only once, and in the right place. As 2020 Census operations move forward, the Census Bureau will continue to improve the use of mobile technology, administrative records, innovations from the geospatial industry and self-response via the internet. This test will provide insights and guide our planning to ensure an accurate census.

For more information, visit census.gov/2017censustests.

2017 Puerto Rico Census Test FAQs

1. What is the 2017 Puerto Rico Census Test? 
   The 2017 Puerto Rico Census Test is a test conducted by the Census Bureau in preparation for the 2020 Census of Puerto Rico. The Census Bureau will test new technologies, operations and procedures to identify the most effective operations for counting residents in Puerto Rico.
2. When will the 2017 Puerto Rico Census Test be conducted?
   The test will take place between February and July 2017. Test area participants will be able to begin responding online in March 2017.
3. Where will the 2017 Puerto Rico Census Test be conducted?
   The test will take place in three municipios within the San Juan metro area. Approximately 123,000 housing units within Carolina, Loíza and Trujillo Alto will participate.
4. Why were these municipios selected?
   The three municipios in Puerto Rico were selected because they were areas where the Census Bureau expects residents to use a variety of response options including the internet, mobile devices, paper questionnaires and by telephone. Additionally, the Census Bureau is testing how Puerto Rico's mailing addresses should be structured within the Census Bureau's master address file.
5. What is the U. S. Census Bureau testing during the 2017 Puerto Rico Census Test?
   The Census Bureau will test components of new technologies to ensure they work both independently and together for a seamless experience for Puerto Rico residents in the 2020 Census. The test will evaluate the effectiveness of address canvassing (update of the Census Bureau address list and maps), data collection geared toward self­response via the internet, update enumerate (update of the Census Bureau address list and maps used to conduct personal visits to households at the same time), and nonresponse follow-up (the operation conducted to personally visit households that to do not respond to the census).
   Test objectives include:
   1. Test the process of updating and validating Puerto Rico addresses with revised address structures and new information sources. This process, known as address canvassing, will help the Census Bureau deliver a complete and accurate address list and spatial database for the 2020 Census of Puerto Rico.
   2. Test integration of different response methodologies, including self-response via the internet.
   3. Test data collection modes, including internet self­response, traditional paper questionnaires and mobile devices for nonresponse followup in Spanish for the residents of Puerto Rico
6. Do I have to respond to the 2017 Puerto Rico Census Test?
   Yes, participation in the test is mandatory (per Title 13 US code) for every residence selected. This same law requires the Census Bureau to keep your answers confidential and only use them to produce statistical summary data.
7. If I respond to the 2017 Puerto Rico Census Test, do I still have to respond to the 2020 Census of Puerto Rico?
   Yes. The 2017 Puerto Rico Census Test is only a test to help prepare for the next census in 2020. Every resident will be able to participate in the 2020 Census when it is conducted.
8. Will the test be conducted in Spanish?
   Yes. All data collection modes and materials for the 2017 Puerto Rico Census Test will be available in English and Spanish.
9. Will there be employment opportunities associated with the 2017 Puerto Rico Census Test?
   Starting in October 2016 the Census Bureau will begin recruiting for temporary full­time and part­time positions in support of the 2017 Puerto Rico Census Test. The work is located in the three municipios: Carolina, Loíza and Trujillo Alto.

2017 Puerto Rico Census Test
Preparing for the 2020 Census

The U.S. Census Bureau is researching modern and cost-efficient methods for the population to exercise its civic obligation to be counted in the 2020 Census of Puerto Rico. Whether through the internet, telephone, traditional paper questionnaires, or in-person visits, the Census Bureau is committed to making the mandatory once-a-decade headcount quick, easy, and safe for all to participate. The 2017 Puerto Rico Census Test is conducted by the Census Bureau in preparation for the 2020 Census of Puerto Rico. The test will allow the Census Bureau to employ new methods and refine processes under consideration for conducting the census in Puerto Rico in 2020.

The Purpose of the 2017 Puerto Rico Census Test
The 2017 Puerto Rico Census Test will provide the Census Bureau an opportunity to test components of new technologies to ensure they work independently and together resulting in a seamless experience for Puerto Rico residents in 2020. The test will evaluate the effectiveness of address canvassing and integration of the data collection methods—primarily, the data collection geared toward self-response and nonresponse follow-up (the operation conducted to personally visit households that to do not respond to the census). The test will take place in three municipios within the San Juan metro area: Carolina, Loíza and Trujillo Alto.

Goals

• Test the process of updating and validating Puerto Rico addresses with revised address structures. This process, known as address canvassing, will help the Census Bureau deliver a complete and accurate address list and spatial database for the 2020 Census of Puerto Rico.
• Assess how internet self-response integrates with other methods of collecting responses, such as questionnaire mail back and household visit, to provide an accurate count for Puerto Rico.
• Test data collection modes (internet self-response, traditional paper questionnaires, and mobile devices used for nonresponse follow-up) in Spanish to ensure efficient and effective non-English, data collection operations.

Hiring Information
Starting in October 2016, the Census Bureau will begin recruiting for temporary full-time and part-time positions in support of the 2017 Puerto Rico Census Test. Positions will be available in Carolina, Loíza and Trujillo Alto from February through July 2017. More information will be available at that time.

For more information, visit census.gov.

PUERTO RICO
The Census Bureau will
conduct the 2017 Puerto Rico
Census Test in the municipios
of Carolina, Loíza and Trujillo
Alto. The test area includes
approximately 123,000
housing units.
Census Day is April 1, 2017.

U.S. Department of Commerce
Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. Census Bureau

Public Information Office
301-763-3030 / [email protected]
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SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau

Related Links

http://www.census.gov