Census Bureau's Covid-19 Impact Survey

Politics & Elections
1

The Census Bureau is doing a Covid-19 Impact Survey of some households. I have been selected for one of these. I have concerns about the survey, and how it will be used. I looked on the Census site and found the questionnaire, and I have some concerns about the questions as well. I think this link will take you to the pdf.

Looking at the pdf, the way some of the questions are worded, I think it will look like Covid-19 has had less of an effect on me and my household than it has. For example, as I understand the questions, I have not lost income, but that is because I have paid leave to help take on the task of educating my kids, and I have split that task with my spouse. So I still work for income, and I still get my whole paycheck. But, my employer only gets about half of my work-product compared to before. Also, the way the question is worded concerning why I have changed my spending habits is odd. The only option related to contagion concerns is “Concerned about going to public or crowded places or having contact with high-risk people,” which doesn’t quite cover it, I think. Or maybe what I’m actually concerned about is that it doesn’t ask about just going out of the house. Like, that we are limiting contact with all persons, not just in connection with spending.

Anyway, because I’m concerned about how it is going to be used, I’m worried about filling it out right away. Is anyone else doing this survey, and does anyone else have concerns about filling it out right now, as opposed to when it can no longer be manipulated for election purposes?

2

Well, the census is certainly not on Team Trump if that helps.

I found this:

It looks like they just want to use it to help lawmakers decide where to allocate any relief funding.

3

Seems like the concern about not accurately reporting income that wasn’t lost because you’re getting paid is covered by question 14:

"Q14 Are you receiving pay for the time you are not working? Select only one answer.
o Yes, I use paid leave (1) "

The questions look pretty reasonable and not particularly slanted. A broad survey like this is never going to cover every nuance of individual circumstance.