Inner-City Black Undercount

Abstract

This report summarizes findings from a 1984 study on the sociological causes of coverage error in the 1980 census in a disadvantaged black community in a large northeastern city. The research design increased the likelihood of finding sample persons by obtaining as many as eight possible addresses from hospital records and field interviews. Analysis of social and demographic characteristics of sample persons (all female) suggests that residential stability and presence of an adult male in the household are positively related to being recorded in the census. Within-household analysis of coresident persons suggests that the young, all males, and especially consensual partners are most likely to be omitted from household rosters.

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