The Redesign of the Census Current Population Survey
Abstract In February 1954 a redesign of the Current Population Survey was introduced that provided for a more efficient system of field organization and supervision as well as some advances in methods. The sample is now spread over 230 areas instead of 68 areas with the same number of households as heretofore. A composite estimation procedure has been introduced which reduces the sampling variability for most estimates. Also, there has been a considerable reduction in the variance of variance estimates made from the sample. A statistical quality control program has been introduced to help insure results of consistently acceptable quality. Problems arose in the process of shifting from one design to the other that resulted in some significant differences between the new and old samples for a few of the estimates, especially unemployment. Apparently response errors were the principal source of difficulty, and it was possible to take steps to bring the results within sampling error range. Work on the measure...