Bureau of the Census' Planned 1985 Pretests for the 1990 Decennial Census

GAO discussed the Bureau of the Census' planned tests for the 1990 decennial census, focusing on the planned two-stage census and on automation. The Bureau will conduct tests in 1985 of the two-stage census process, in which one questionnaire is distributed to the entire population and a more detailed questionnaire is subsequently distributed to a sample of the population. One test is designed to compare the two-stage system with a one-stage system like the one used in 1980. GAO believes that the short form used in the test should be more limited than that planned by the Bureau. GAO also stated that the Bureau may not have allowed sufficient time to implement automation procedures for the next census. Many functions under the 1980 census were performed manually and GAO believes that the Bureau should have these functions automated in time for the 1990 census. GAO expressed concern that the Bureau will not know its information requirements until 1986; GAO was unsure that such a late start would allow time for the Bureau to complete the acquisition process for the necessary automated equipment.