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Exploring the U.S. Census
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Exploring the U.S. Census
Your Guide to America’s Data

October 2019 | 464 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
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Exploring the U.S. Census gives social science students and researchers alike the tools to understand, extract, process, and analyze data from the decennial census, the American Community Survey, and other data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau. Donnelly's text provides a thorough background on the data collection methods, structures, and potential pitfalls of the census for unfamiliar researchers, collecting information previously available only in widely disparate sources into one handy guide. Hands-on, applied exercises at the end of the chapters help readers dive into the data.

Along the way, the author shows how best to analyze census data with open-source software and tools. Readers can freely evaluate the data on their own computers, in keeping with the free and open data provided by the Census Bureau. By placing the census in the context of the open data movement, this text makes the history and practice of the census relevant so readers can understand what a crucial resource the census is for research and knowledge.



 
I. CENSUS FUNDAMENTALS
 
1. Placing the Census in Context
1.1 What is Census Data?

 
1.2 Application of Census Data

 
1.3 Role of the Census in American Society

 
1.4 Criticism of the Census

 
1.6 Conclusion and Next Steps

 
 
2. Dive into the Data
2.1 Introducing data.census.gov

 
2.2 First Steps in Data Exploration

 
2.3 Chart a Clear Path with Advanced Search

 
2.4 Other Sources for Census Data

 
2.5 Census Research Reports

 
2.6 Review Questions and Practice Exercises

 
 
3. Census Geography
3.1 Geography Matters

 
3.2 Census Geography Hierarchy

 
3.3 The Primary Trunk

 
3.4 Exploring Census Geography with TIGERweb

 
3.5 Other Geographies - The Branches

 
3.6 Revisiting TIGERweb

 
3.7 Geographic Reference

 
3.8 Review Questions and Practice Exercises

 
 
4. Subject Characteristics
4.1 The Census Universe

 
4.2 Residency

 
4.3 Population Characteristics

 
4.4 Housing Unit Characteristics

 
4.5 The Labor Force

 
4.6 Derived Measures

 
4.7 Exercises

 
4.8 Review Questions and Practice Exercises

 
 
II. THE PRIMARY DATASETS
 
5. The Decennial Census
5.1 Introduction

 
5.2 The Census in the 21st Century

 
5.3 The Data Collection Process

 
5.4 Decennial Census Data

 
5.5 Exercises

 
5.6 Review Questions and Practice Exercises

 
 
6. The American Community Survey
6.1 Introduction

 
6.2 Fundamentals of the ACS

 
6.3 ACS Variables

 
6.4 Exercises

 
6.5 Review Questions and Practice Exercises

 
 
7. Population Estimates Program
7.1 Introduction

 
7.2 PEP Fundamentals

 
7.3 PEP Datasets and Variables

 
7.4 Applications for PEP Data

 
7.5 Exercises

 
7.6 Review Questions and Practice Exercises

 
 
8. Business Datasets
8.1 Introduction

 
8.2 Navigating Industries with NAICS

 
8.3 Data for Business Establishments

 
8.4 Labor Force Statistics

 
8.5 Exercises

 
8.6 Review Questions and Practice Exercises

 
 
9. Integrating Census Data into Research
9.1 Introduction

 
9.2 Writing With Census Data

 
9.3 Making Geographic Decisions

 
9.4 National Trends and Historical Context

 
9.5 Review Questions and Practice Exercises

 
 
III. ADVANCED TOPICS
 
10. Mapping and GIS
10.1 Introduction

 
10.2 Creating Maps Online

 
10.3 Introduction to GIS

 
10.4 GIS Exercise

 
10.5 Review Questions and Practice Exercises

 
 
11. Census Data Derivatives
11.1 Introduction

 
11.2 Measures of Population Distribution

 
11.3 Measures of Income and Inequality

 
11.4 Means and Medians for Aggregates

 
11.5 Geographic Derivatives

 
11.6 Review Questions and Practice Exercises

 
 
12. Historical Data and Microdata
12.1 Introduction

 
12.2 Historical Census Data

 
12.3 Microdata

 
12.4 In Conclusion - What Next?

 
12.5 Review Questions and Practice Exercises

 

This is a great practical book for navigating the largest public open data site - the US Census.

Julie Jones
Journalism and Mass Communication, University Of Oklahoma
August 13, 2020
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Key features
  • The thorough background on the data collection methods, structures, and potential pitfalls of the census for the unfamiliar  gives readers a better understanding of the census.
  • Shares tools for understanding, extracting, processing, and analyzing data from the decennial census, the American Community Survey, and other data so readers can more easily access the data. 
  • Advanced topics and applications demonstrate the many possibilities of research with census data. Topics include mapping, geographic information systems, creating new variables and measures, historical census data, and microdata.
  • Hands-on, applied exercises at the end of the chapters help readers dive into the data.
  • Shows how to analyze census data with open-source software and tools, such as QGIS geographic information system, LibreOffice® Calc, and the DB Browser for SQLite®.

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