Current Population Survey Design and Methodology - Census Bureau

Appendix D.
Organization and Training of the Data Collection Staff
INTRODUCTION
The data collection staff for all U.S. Census Bureau programs
is directed through 12 regional offices (ROs) and 3
telephone centers. The ROs collect data using two modes:
CAPI (computer-assisted personal interviewing) and CATI
(computer-assisted telephone interviewing). The 12 ROs
report to the Chief of the Field Division whose headquarters
is located in Washington, DC. The three CATI facility
managers report to the Chief of the National Processing
Center (NPC), located in Jeffersonville, Indiana.
ORGANIZATION OF REGIONAL OFFICES/CATI
FACILITIES
The staffs of the ROs and CATI facilities carry out the Census
Bureau’s field data collection programs for both
sample surveys and censuses. Currently, the ROs supervise
over 6,500 part-time and intermittent field representatives
(FRs) who work on continuing current programs
and one-time surveys. Approximately 1,900 of these FRs
work on the Current Population Survey (CPS). When a census
is being taken, the field staff increases dramatically.
The location of the ROs and the boundaries of their
responsibilities are displayed in Figure D–1. RO areas were
originally defined to evenly distribute the office workloads
for all programs. Table D–1 shows the average number of
CPS units assigned for interview per month in each RO.
A regional director is in charge of each RO. Program coordinators
report to the director through an assistant
regional director. The CPS is the responsibility of the
demographic program coordinator, who has two or three
CPS program supervisors on staff. The program supervisors
have a staff of two to four office clerks working
essentially full-time. Most of the clerks are full-time federal
employees who work in the RO. The typical RO employs
about 100 to 250 FRs who are assigned to the CPS. Most
FRs also work on other surveys. The RO usually has 20−35
senior field representatives (SFRs) who act as team leaders
to FRs. Each team leader is assigned 6 to 10 FRs. The primary
function of the team leader is to assist the program
supervisors with training and supervising the field interviewing
staff. In addition, the SFRs conduct nonresponse
and quality assurance reinterview follow-up with eligible
households. Like other FRs, the SFR is a part-time or intermittent
employee who works out of his or her home.
Despite the geographic dispersion of the sample areas,
there is a considerable amount of personal contact
Current Population Survey TP66
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Census Bureau
between the supervisory staff and the FRs, accomplished
mainly through the training programs and various aspects
of the quality control program. For some of the outlying
PSUs, it is necessary to use the telephone and written
communication to keep in continual touch with all FRs.
With the introduction of CAPI, the ROs also communicate
with the FRs using e-mail. Assigning new functions, such
as team leadership responsibilities, also improves communications
between the ROs and the interviewing staff. In
addition to communications relating to the work content,
there is a regular system for reporting progress and costs.
The CATI centers are staffed with one facility manager
who directs the work of two to three supervisory survey
statisticians. Each supervisory survey statistician is in
charge of about 15 supervisors and between 100-200
interviewers.
A substantial portion of the budget for field activities is
allocated to monitoring and improving the quality of the
FRs’ work. This includes FRs’ group training, monthly
home studies, personal observation, and reinterview.
Approximately 25 percent of the CPS budget (including
travel for training) is allocated to quality enhancement.
The remaining 75 percent of the budget went to FR and
SFR salaries, all other travel, clerical work in the ROs,
recruitment, and the supervision of these activities.
TRAINING FIELD REPRESENTATIVES
Approximately 20 to 25 percent of the CPS FRs leave the
staff each year. As a result, the recruitment and training of
new FRs is a continuing task in each RO. To be selected as
a CPS FR, a candidate must pass the Field Employee Selection
Aid test on reading, arithmetic, and map reading. The
FR is required to live in or near the Primary Sampling Unit
(PSU) in which the work is to be performed and have a
residence telephone and, in most situations, an automobile.
As a part-time or intermittent employee, the FR works
40 or fewer hours per week or month. In most cases, new
FRs are paid at the GS−3 level and are eligible for payment
at the GS−4 scale after 1 year of fully successful or better
work. FRs are paid mileage for the use of their own cars
while interviewing and for commuting to classroom training
sites. They also receive pay for completing their home
study training packages.
FIELD REPRESENTATIVE TRAINING PROCEDURES
Initial training for new field representatives. Each
FR, when appointed, undergoes an initial training program
prior
Organization and Training of the Data Collection Staff D–1