Using the 1990 U.S. Census for Research

Those looking for a compact guide to lead users through the complexities of census materials should add this book to their collection. . . . The novice will get help in finding the proper source; the experienced researcher will get a good review and be guided to other works for more complex problems. . . . A worthy supplement to census information in all academic collections. --Choice Comprehensive yet succinct, this highly useable volume explains the ins and outs of using census data for research. It covers the history and current contents of the 1990 census and describes the differences between the 1980 and 1990 censuses. It also shows how researchers can take advantage of new media such as CD-ROM and on-line sources. Aimed at the advanced student or social scientist who is not a technical demographer, this clearly written volume uses a broad array of examples to show how to use census data for areal and individual-level analyses. Specific examples in this book illustrate the choices and constraints researchers face. In addition, the author points out ways to code, clean, and interpret the data and provides the latest information on census geography, the undercount problem, question error rates, data products, and plans for future U.S. censuses. An ideal supplemental text for courses in population and research methods, Using the 1990 U.S. Census for Research will help instructors encourage their students to develop research projects using secondary data. It also provides other researchers with a comprehensive introduction to census data.

This book is designed to help users with research questions or hypotheses that can be tested using census data. A prior acquaintance with demographic techniques is not required. The author shows how census data can be used to complement other data sources and can provide information on research questions which cannot be tested statistically. Using specific examples, the author illustrates the choices and constraints that researchers face, points out ways to code, clean and interpret the data, and provides the latest information on census geography, the undercount problem, question error rates, data products and plans for future US censuses.