7.6 The Average American: Data Collection and Analysis

Friday, March 27, 2009

Data Collection Issues

United States Census http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/00000.

html

Census Background

Every ten years – required by the US Constitution Early 1600s - Virginia First US Census done in 1790 (4 million)

under the direction of Thomas Jefferson, federal marshals traveled by horseback from town to town to count the U.S. population in each state. The newly formed U.S. government used this data to pay back the states for the expenses of the Revolutionary War

The six inquiries in 1790 called for the name of the head of the family and the number of persons in each household of the following descriptions: Free White males of 16 years and upward (to assess the country's industrial and military potential), free White males under 16 years, free White females, all other free persons (by sex and color), and slaves

More History

1890 (63 million) Following its annexation in 1898, Hawaii

(where the local government took a census every 6 years from 1866 through 1896) was included in the 1900 census, which also had the first count of the U.S. population abroad (Armed Forces and Government civilian employees, and their households).

1990 (248 million) 2000 (298 million) Determines Number of Congressional reps $185 billion in federal funds

More History

In 1810, the census was expanded to obtain information on the manufacturing, quantity and value of products.

In 1840, the census added questions on fisheries.

In 1850, the census collected data on issues such as taxation, churches, pauperism and crime.

Census Jobs

The Census Bureau employs nearly 12,000 people.

The workforce expands dramatically when the census is taken every 10 years.

About 860,000 temporary workers were hired for Census 2000.

Everyone?

1990 Census – Information was not reported for about 8 million people

Information was reported twice for about 4 million people

Undercount higher for minorities and young children Reasons for non-participation

Afraid of or distrust of government Did not understand purpose and benefit Did not care Didn’t know it was required English

Who’s Included

Next Census Day – April 1, 2010 Census Directions

Include Foster children, roomers, or housemates People staying at your home on April 1 who have

no other permanent place to stay People living at your home most of the time while

working, even if they have another place to live

Who’s Not Included

Do not Include: College students living away from home while

attending college People in a correctional facility, nursing home

or mental hospital Armed Forces personnel living somewhere

else People who live or stay at another place most

of the time

Private Information

Federal law mandates that no one outside the Census Bureau can be given any information that would enable him or her to connect answers on the form with the name and address of the person who filled it out

It is illegal for any information gathered to be shared with any other government agency (including IRS, FBI, INS, housing authorities, and federal or state welfare programs).

Secrets

Census workers are sworn to secrecy before they are permitted to look at a completed census form

Anyone who violates the oath faces a sizable fine and a prison term

No information that can be traced to an individual is ever published

Individual records are held confidential for 72 years

The Forms

Short form and long form 83% receive the short form Short form

6 questions on race, gender, age, housing tenure

Long form 34 topics (birthplace, language, home value,

labor status, income, etc)

The Average American

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the average U.S. woman is 5' 3.7” tall and weighs 152 pounds

The average American woman is tall enough for an astronaut (minimum height, 4' 10.5”) but falls short of the average Miss America winner (5' 6.5”) and is about the same height as the shortest president (James Madison, 5' 4).

The average U.S. male stands 5' 9.1” tall and weighs 180 pounds

The Average American

Average American generates four pounds of solid trash per day, for a grand total of 1,460 pounds per year

According to a Bureau of Transportation Statistics press release, the average American spends 26.5 minutes a day driving to work

The Agriculture Department says the average American eats 1,148 pounds of food a year.

Average American and TV

The average person watches four hours of television per day. The average American student spends more time watching

television than in the classroom. The average television viewer sees up to 20 acts of violence per

hour. Lifelong television viewing habits can be established by age 3. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the

American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Psychological Association all agree that violence in the media is related to aggression in real life.

On average, people see 30,000 television commercials each year.

People who watch a lot of television read less than those who don't.

Average American Shopper

Gallup poll finds the average American will spend $797 on gifts for his or her loved ones this Christmas.

Six out of 10 Americans expect to spend at least $500 on gifts, while 28% plan to spend between $100 and $500.

Nearly two out of three say this is about the same as the amount they spent last year, while 17% plan to spend more and 18% expect to spend less.

More

Statistical Abstract of the United States

Bucknell Info

Common Data Set This year’s set

National Survey of Student Engagement http://nsse.iub.edu/index.cfm

Class Info

Everyone complete the form ANONYMOUSLY

DO NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTION YOU WOULD RATHER NOT ANSWER

Results will be compiled

Questions

1. Class Section (1:00 or 2:00)

2. Gender

3. Weight1. Below 90 lbs

2. Between 90 and 119 lbs

3. Between 120 and 149 lbs

4. Between 150 and 179 lbs

5. 180 or more pounds

Questions

4. Height1. Below 4’6”2. Between 4’6” and 4’11”3. Between 5’ and 5’5”4. Between 5’6” and 5’11”5. 6’ and over

5. Favorite part of your own body1. Hair2. Face3. Arms4. Stomach5. Legs6. Other

Questions

6. How many siblings do you have?1. None2. 1 or 23. 3 or 44. 5 or 65. More than 6

7. How often do you call home on average?1. Once every 2 months2. Once a month3. Twice a month4. Once a week5. Several times a week

Questions

8. How often do you do your laundry?1. Every time you go home2. Once a semester3. Once a month4. Twice a month5. Once a week

9. How many hours do you sleep on average per night?

1. Less than 2 hours2. Two or three hours3. Four or five hours4. Six or seven hours5. More than seven hours

Questions

10. How many hours of athletic activities do you participate in per week?

1. Less than one hour2. One or two hours3. Three or four hours4. Five or six hours5. Seven or more hours

11. What is the average number of dates you go out on per month?

1. At most one2. Two or three3. Four or five4. Six or seven5. More than seven

Questions

12. When did you see your last movie in a movie theatre?

1. At least two months ago2. A month ago3. Three weeks ago4. Two weeks ago5. This past week

13. How many hours do you surf the Web per week?1. At most one hour2. Between 1 and 2 hours3. Between 2 and 3 hours4. Between 3 and 4 hours5. More than 4 hours

Questions

14. What is the average number of email messages that you receive per week?

15. How many hours do you study per week?

16. How many courses have you taken in college so far?

Questions

17. What do you plan to do after you graduate?1. Pursue graduate studies

2. Attend a professional school

3. Find a job in business

4. Find a job not in business

18. How many people in this class do you find attractive?