Design and Methodology: Current Population Survey

摘要

The Current Population Survey (CPS) is one of the oldest, largest, and most well-recognized surveys in the United States. It is immensely important, providing information on many of the things that define us as individuals and as a societyour work, our earnings, our education. It is also immensely complex. Staff of the Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics have attempted, in this publication, to provide data users with a thorough description of the design and methodology used in the CPS. The preparation of this technical paper was a major undertaking, spanning several years and involving dozens of statisticians, economists, and others from the two agencies. While the basic approach to collecting labor force and other data through the CPS has remained intact over the intervening years, much has changed. In particular, a redesigned CPS was introduced in January 1994, centered around the surveys first use of a computerized survey instrument by field interviewers. The questionnaire itself was rewritten to better communicate CPS concepts to the respondent, and to take advantage of computerization. In January 2003, the CPS adopted the 2002 census industry and occupation classification systems, derived from the 2002 North American Industry Classification System and the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification System. Users of CPS data should have access to up-to-date information about the surveys methodology.