Using Software to Collect Data Electronically for the Economic Census

1
Using Software to Collect Data Electronically for
the Economic Census

• Amy E. Anderson
• M. Diane Harley
• Presented by Shirin Ahmed
• U.S. Census Bureau

2
Outline

• Background
• What is an Economic Census?
• The software
• Research
• Timeline
• Findings
• Challenges for the future

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What is an Economic Census?

• Largest collection of economic data from
  establishments in the U.S.
• Provides benchmark measures for the U.S. economy
• Main use is for the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
• Collected every 5 years
• Modes Paper or electronic
• Includes over 500 form types based on industry
  classification

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The Software Surveyor

• Windows based application
• Downloadable
• Internet
• Business Help Site www.census.gov/econhelp
• Encrypted CD (when requested)
• Also used to collect 3 surveys
• Report of Organization (estab based)
• Annual Survey of Manufactures (estab based)
• Research and Development Survey (RD)
• Company based
• Moving to the Web in the future

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Other electronic reporting options

• Census Taker Web Application
• Manufacturers Shipments, Inventories, and Order
  (M3) Survey (monthly)
• Quarterly Financial Report (QFR)
• Quarterly Services Survey (QSS)
• Annual Retail Trade Survey (ARTS)
• Annual Trade Survey (ATS)
• Annual Capital Expenditures Survey (ACES)
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
  Survey
• Survey of Plant Capacity Utilization (SPCU)

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The Surveyor Software
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Welcome Screen (page 2 in handout)
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Inbox View (page 3 in handout)
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Form View (page 4 in handout)
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Workbook View (page 5 in handout)
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Errors and Warnings View (page 6 in handout)
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The Surveyor Software Additional Functionality

• Exporting Importing
• Exporting
• The software creates a spreadsheet containing
  location addresses and whatever data is within
  the software at the time of exporting
• Columns per data field
• Row per location
• Exporting per form type
• Importing
• The software imports" the spreadsheet back into
  Surveyor

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Outline

• Background
• What is an Economic Census?
• The software
• Research
• Timeline
• Findings
• Challenges for the future

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Research Timeline

• Early 2003 Observational visits
• 2002 Economic Census
• Late 2003 Debriefing interviews
• 2004 / 2005 Requirements gathering
• In preparation for 2007 Economic Census
• 2006 Usability testing
• Software prototype

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Research Findings

• Response Process Findings
• (Requirements Gathering)
• Major Design Changes
• (Usability Testing)

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Response Process Findings

• Task Analysis
• How did you gather the data?
• How are you searching your records?
• Who did you work with? How?
• How does the software assist / hinder with these
  tasks?
• Evaluate the software against the tasks that Rs
  are doing
• Results of that analysis assisted in the creation
  of prototypes for usability testing

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Response Process FindingsUse of Spreadsheets

• Spreadsheets are an important tool during an
  economic census
• Spreadsheets are used to
• Compare data
• Gather data
• Consolidate data
• Verify data

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Response Process FindingsUse of Spreadsheets
cont.

• Compare Data
• Prior to gathering data, Rs will compare our
  list of locations to their list of locations
• Identify newly closed or opened locations
• Identify mis-matched locations due to
  typographical differences

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Response Process FindingsUse of Spreadsheets
cont.

• Gather Data
• Few respondents have access to all of the
  necessary data to complete an economic census
  form
• Rs use spreadsheets to gather data from other
  employees

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Response Process FindingsUse of Spreadsheets
cont.

• Consolidate Data
• Once the data is gathered, sometimes in pieces,
  it is then merged together onto one consolidated
  spreadsheet

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Response Process FindingsUse of Spreadsheets
cont.

• Verify Data
• Once data gathering is complete, Rs sometimes
  compare reported data to aggregate company totals
  available in balance sheets and income statements
  to verify that the data is correct

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Research Findings

• Response Process Findings
• (Requirements Gathering)
• Major Design Changes
• (Usability Testing)
• 1 New screens were added
• 2 Overhaul of exporting / importing feature
• 3 Redesigned Inbox View

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Design Change 1 New Screens Were Added

• Workbook View

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Workbook View (page 5 in handout)
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Design Change 1 New Screens Were Added cont.

• Workbook View
• Respondents wanted a correctable quick view of
  their data
• Very well received by respondents
• Large companies
• facilitate exporting/importing functionality
• eyeball their imported data
• make quick data changes
• Medium/small companies
• faster data entry
• like using a spreadsheet without having to
  export

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Design Change 1 New Screens Were Added cont.

• Error and Warning View

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Errors and Warnings View (page 6 in handout)
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Design Change 1 New Screens Were Added cont.

• Error and Warning View
• In the past, Rs could only view
  errors / warnings form by form
• Now they can view all errors/warnings at one time
• eyeball errors/warnings within ALL forms
• sorting allows respondents to pick how they want
  to resolve their edits (by location or by type of
  edit)
• Very well received by respondents

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Design Change 2Overhaul of Exporting /
Importing Feature

• Flexible exported spreadsheets
• 2002 Rs could not move or delete rows or
  columns
• 2007 Rs can customize by deleting or moving
  columns

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Design Change 2Overhaul of Exporting /
Importing Feature cont.

• Informative exported spreadsheets
• 2002
• Spreadsheets had one-word (sometimes cryptic)
  column title
• 2007
• More information within the column to help Rs
  answer each field
• Welcome screen
• Basic information on how to fill out the
  spreadsheet
• Where to go for more help

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Design Change 3Redesigned Inbox View

• Identified and eliminated columns that werent
  useful, or were troublesome
• Reordered columns to help emphasize more
  important ones
• Example errors and warnings were moved to a more
  prominent position
• Added and updated customization options based on
  response process findings

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Outline

• Background
• What is an Economic Census?
• The software
• Research
• Timeline
• Findings
• Challenges for the future

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Challenges for the future

• Working with Rs who are restricted from
  downloading software (including Surveyor) onto
  their work PCs
• Helping companies with diverse response processes
  use Surveyor
• Using our Account Manager Program to help work
  with these diverse companies
• Giving tips in our mail out package,
  instructions, Business Help Site, etc.

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Challenges for the future cont.

• Meeting the needs of single-establishment
  respondents
• Possibly offering single-establishment companies
  the option of reporting on the Web for 2012

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Using Software to Collect Data Electronically for
the Economic Census

• Questions
• Amy E. Anderson
• amy.e.anderson_at_census.gov
• 301-763-7544
• U.S. Census Bureau