Like other National Statistical Institutes worldwide, the U.S. Census Bureau strives to reduce data collection costs and field time while at the same time maintaining high levels of response and data quality. One means toward this end is to tailor and add new response modes including the addition of the Internet as a means of responding.

Currently, the U.S. Census Bureau is at the forefront of using electronic modes, including the Internet, for collection of business and establishment data. On the other hand, very few Census Bureau household surveys allow an Internet option and the recent 2010 Decennial Census did not offer Internet reporting. This paper will compare and contrast the issues, challenges and experiences of testing and implementing the Internet as a data collection mode from both an establishment and household survey perspective. Successes and pitfalls will be discussed including security requirements, response rate tradeoffs, costs, design issues, multi-mode applications, and use of targeting.

Keywords: Internet data collection; Establishment surveys; Household surveys

Biography: Jennifer Guarino Tancreto is the chief of the American Community Survey Data Collection Methods staff in the Decennial Statistical Studies Division at the U.S. Census Bureau. Jennifer holds a BS in Mathematics with a concentration in Statistics from Loyola College, and a Masters in Survey Methodology from the Joint Program in Survey Methodology at the University of Maryland. She has spent the majority of her 15 years at the U.S. Census Bureau working on experiments to improve the methodology used in the American Community Survey and decennial censuses.

Amy Anderson is a section chief in the Office of Economic Planning at the U.S. Census Bureau. Amy holds a Masters in Survey Methodology from the Joint Program in Survey Methdoology at the University of Maryland. She has spent the majority of her 12 years working on research to reduce measurement error on various paper and electronic establishment surveys.