Full Citation

Title: Comparability of the Public Use Files of the U.S. Census of Population, 1880-1980

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 1991

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Abstract: Because US Census Bureau reports summarize population counts through cross-tabulation of individual or family characteristics, the criteria for which changes over time, the information is not ideal for analytic research, especially in history. Through the release of census data in "public use sample" form, microdata census samples covering the last one hundred years will soon be available (except for the years 1920, 1930, and 1980). Important differences exist between these important samples, however, in the following categories: census format and the consequent sample format, units of enumeration and sampling, strategies of constructing the samples, methods of reporting household composition, geographic position, ethnicity, economic status, education, and literacy.

User Submitted?: No

Authors: Ruggles, Steven

Periodical (Full): Social Science History

Issue: 1

Volume: 15

Pages: 123-158

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Methodology and Data Collection

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