Information for Researchers >>

Resources: General and detailed information from the Bureau of the Census

  • Statistical Issues of Interpretation of the American Community Survey's One-, Three-, and Five-Year Period Estimates. describes the statistical use and interpretation of the ACS Multi-Year Estimates. In particular, it focuses on the choice between one-, three-, and five-year estimates, and examines change over time with annually released ACS estimates.
  • Selections from the ACS "Compass" series:
    • What Researchers Need to Know acquaints researchers with issues that may affect their analyses of ACS data. Case studies illustrate uses of the ACS, and exercises are provided for readers to practice accessing and analyzing ACS data.
    • What Users of Data for Rural Areas Need to Know introduces the ACS to people who care about and use social, demographic, economic and housing data for small governmental units and rural communities. Using the device of a single case study, this handbook illustrates a variety of aspects of the ACS and shows how results from the ACS are both similar to, and different from, data formerly gathered in conjunction with the decennial census.
    • What State and Local Governments Need to Know shows how ACS data can be used to address typical issues faced by state and local governments and provides information that can allow for a more effective transition from decennial census long form data to ACS data. Several real-life case studies are included to demonstrate how best to use and interpret ACS data.
    • What Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) Data Users Need to Know explains how PUMS files differ from pretabulated products; how to access the data; and how to produce your own tables. Data users already familiar with PUMS files available from Census 2000 can learn how those files differ from the ACS PUMS.
    • Additional resources from the ACS Compass series: