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Asian Pacific American Coalition U.S.A. 1489 Dolores St. San Francisco, CA 94110 Address Correction Requested Return & Forwarding Postage Guaranteed ■0**0 OFFICERS PRESIDENT Allan l_ Saw. M.D. VICE PRESIDENT •afatnand Oatoai. Ed-0. Int Oiaavrto Youno. »i.D SECRETARY TREASURER Fred Y. Setsu HIRASUMA U16 W. Stuart Ave. Fresno, CA 93711 [R 3 8 T 1095 2227 Bulk Rate U.S. Postage PAID San Jose, CA Permit #4245 1990 CENSUS ISSUES: Census Bureau's Facts or Fiction a. An Efficient Process? The Census Bureau asserts the proposed 1990 race question is efficient. Although a fill-in-the-blank response would prove more costly as well as cumbersome, the Census Bureau is resigned to the fact that they had anticipated additional costs for developing the 1990 race question and would incur even more costs for its tabulation. Census computers would take a picture of the written response and transfer the image to a staffperson who would manually read and code the response. The Census Bureau supports this convoluted procedure, rejecting the use of a check-off item which a computer could read, easing both the response and tabulation processes. b. Not Enough Space? The Census Bureau asserts that check-off items listing more Asian Pacific groups would necessitate more space. Yet the proposed instructions for the race question, which asks the Asian or Pacific Islander respondent to fill in the blank, lists 18 Asian Pacific groups. In that space the race question could provide check-off items. c. Consistent Policy? The Census Bureau asserts that the all races will benefit from a uniform race question. The 1990 race item for Hispanic responses will entail a separate question with check-off items. Asian Pacific groups applaud this and believe that Asian and Pacific Islander respondents need a similar format. Such a procedure provides more accurate data and enhances response for both Asian Pacific and Hispanic populations. d. A Better Race Question? The Census Bureau asserts that the 1990 race question provides better responses from all populations. The Bureau tested a modified 1980 race question to the proposed 1990 question. However, APAC/USA has serious questions about the validity and reliability of the Bureau's "test." The tests were administered in particular areas of Los Angeles and Mississippi. The areas' ethnic and socioeconomic makeup greatly determined the responses. Although the tests simulated an actual Census, it only asked the race question, not a series of items. Furthermore, the subjects were necessarily informed that they were being tested, a fact which greatly influences some to respond. In addition, the testing of the 1990 race question to a modified 1980 version, opposed to the actual 1980 item, alters the comparison. The suggestion that the 1990 proposal will render better results than the actual 1980 item cannot be made. The only conclusion should be that the 1990 race question might promote better responses than the modified 1980 question.
Object Description
Title | APAC Alert - May 1988 |
Description | This document is an alert from APAC (Asian Pacific American Coalition). |
Subjects | Redress and reparations |
Type | image |
Genre | Memorandum |
Language | eng |
Collection | Hirasuna Family Papers |
Collection Description | 4 items |
Project Name | California State University Japanese American Digitization Project |
Rights | Rights not yet transferred |
Description
Local ID | csufr_hfp_1265 |
Project ID | csufr_hfp_1265 |
Title | Page 4 |
Creator | APAC |
Date Created | 1988 - 05 - 00 |
Subjects | Redress and reparations |
Type | image |
Genre | Memorandum |
Language | eng |
Collection | Hirasuna Family Papers |
Collection Description | 8.35 x 10.89in |
Rights | Rights not yet transferred |
Transcript | Asian Pacific American Coalition U.S.A. 1489 Dolores St. San Francisco, CA 94110 Address Correction Requested Return & Forwarding Postage Guaranteed ■0**0 OFFICERS PRESIDENT Allan l_ Saw. M.D. VICE PRESIDENT •afatnand Oatoai. Ed-0. Int Oiaavrto Youno. »i.D SECRETARY TREASURER Fred Y. Setsu HIRASUMA U16 W. Stuart Ave. Fresno, CA 93711 [R 3 8 T 1095 2227 Bulk Rate U.S. Postage PAID San Jose, CA Permit #4245 1990 CENSUS ISSUES: Census Bureau's Facts or Fiction a. An Efficient Process? The Census Bureau asserts the proposed 1990 race question is efficient. Although a fill-in-the-blank response would prove more costly as well as cumbersome, the Census Bureau is resigned to the fact that they had anticipated additional costs for developing the 1990 race question and would incur even more costs for its tabulation. Census computers would take a picture of the written response and transfer the image to a staffperson who would manually read and code the response. The Census Bureau supports this convoluted procedure, rejecting the use of a check-off item which a computer could read, easing both the response and tabulation processes. b. Not Enough Space? The Census Bureau asserts that check-off items listing more Asian Pacific groups would necessitate more space. Yet the proposed instructions for the race question, which asks the Asian or Pacific Islander respondent to fill in the blank, lists 18 Asian Pacific groups. In that space the race question could provide check-off items. c. Consistent Policy? The Census Bureau asserts that the all races will benefit from a uniform race question. The 1990 race item for Hispanic responses will entail a separate question with check-off items. Asian Pacific groups applaud this and believe that Asian and Pacific Islander respondents need a similar format. Such a procedure provides more accurate data and enhances response for both Asian Pacific and Hispanic populations. d. A Better Race Question? The Census Bureau asserts that the 1990 race question provides better responses from all populations. The Bureau tested a modified 1980 race question to the proposed 1990 question. However, APAC/USA has serious questions about the validity and reliability of the Bureau's "test." The tests were administered in particular areas of Los Angeles and Mississippi. The areas' ethnic and socioeconomic makeup greatly determined the responses. Although the tests simulated an actual Census, it only asked the race question, not a series of items. Furthermore, the subjects were necessarily informed that they were being tested, a fact which greatly influences some to respond. In addition, the testing of the 1990 race question to a modified 1980 version, opposed to the actual 1980 item, alters the comparison. The suggestion that the 1990 proposal will render better results than the actual 1980 item cannot be made. The only conclusion should be that the 1990 race question might promote better responses than the modified 1980 question. |