Description

CIOTHCOMP reports whether the respondent or any member of their household owned or used some other type of computer. This excludes GPS devices with only limited computed capabilities, for example: household appliances.

User Note: The ACS 2016 introduced changes to the questions regarding computer use and Internet access. See the comparability section and questionnaire text for more information.

Comparability

In 2016, the ACS rephrased the wording of the computer access question and the options available to respondents. Specifically, the question dropped the prompt asking respondents to "EXCLUDE GPS devices, digital music players, and devices with only limited computing capabilities, for example: household appliances." Prior to 2016, three options were available to respondents: 1) Desktop, laptop, netbook, or notebook computer, 2) handheld computer, smart mobile phone, or other handheld wireless computer, and 3) some other type of computer. These options were expanded to four in 2016: 1) Desktop or laptop, b) smartphone, c) tablet or other portable wireless computer, and d) some other type of computer.

IPUMS-USA has added CISMRTPHN and CITABLET as a result of these changes.

Data about computer and Internet use also has been collected sporadically from the Current Population Survey (CPS) since 1984. Both surveys exclude those living in group quarters. However, users should note CPS Computer and Internet data is not necessarily comparable to ACS data in several important ways. First, unlike the ACS, some CPS Computer and Internet questions are asked at the person level. In addition, the CPS questions and answer categories have changed multiple times over the years. Therefore, comparable data may not be available for certain questions during some years. Finally, some questions may appear to have similar wording between the ACS and CPS, but may have a different question universe.

Universe

Availability

• 2023: All samples
• 2022: All samples
• 2021: All samples
• 2020: All samples
• 2019: All samples
• 2018: All samples
• 2017: All samples
• 2016: ACS
• 2015: ACS
• 2014: ACS
• 2013: ACS
• 2012: --
• 2011: --
• 2010: --
• 2009: --
• 2008: --
• 2007: --
• 2006: --
• 2005: --
• 2004: --
• 2003: --
• 2002: --
• 2001: --
• 2000: --
• 1990: --
• 1980: --
• 1970: --
• 1960: --
• 1950: --
• 1940: --
• 1930: --
• 1920: --
• 1910: --
• 1900: --
• 1880: --
• 1870: --
• 1860: --
• 1850: --

• 2023: All samples
• 2022: All samples
• 2021: All samples
• 2020: All samples
• 2019: All samples
• 2018: All samples
• 2017: All samples
• 2016: PRCS
• 2015: PRCS
• 2014: PRCS
• 2013: PRCS
• 2012: --
• 2011: --
• 2010: --
• 2009: --
• 2008: --
• 2007: --
• 2006: --
• 2005: --
• 2000: --
• 1990: --
• 1980: --
• 1970: --
• 1930: --
• 1920: --
• 1910: --

Flags

Editing Procedure

CILAPTOP (Laptop, desktop, or notebook computer)
CIHAND (Handheld computer)
CIOTHCOMP (Other computer equipment)
CINETHH (Access to internet)
CIMODEM (Cable internet service)
CISAT (Satellite internet service)
CIDSL (DSL service)
CIFIBER (Fiber-optic Internet service)
CIBRDBND (Mobile broadband plan)
CIDIAL (Dial-up service)
CIOTHSVC (Other internet service)
ACS Years: 2013, 2014, 2015
ACS editing procedure:
The ACS asks a series of questions about computer access in a household. First, there are a series of checkboxes about what types of computers are in the household as well as a space for a write-in response. Second, then checkboxes for if and how the household can access the internet and a space for a write-in response.
If a housing unit is vacant (VACANCY), all the computer variables will be made "Not in universe."
If a household responds "No" for the checkbox about desktop, laptop, netbook, or notebook computer, but then puts a write-in value of desktop, laptop, netbook, or notebook computer CILAPTOP will be replaced with "Yes."
If a household responds "No" for the checkbox about a handheld computer or smart phone, but then puts a write-in value of handheld computer or smart phone CIHAND will be replaced with "Yes."
If a household respond that they have another type of computer but the write-in response is not another type of computer, CIOTHCOMP will be replaced with "No."
If a household responds "No" for the checkbox having another computer, but then puts a write-in value of another type of computer, CIOTHCOMP will be replaced with "Yes."
If the household responds "Yes" to at least one of CILAPTOP, CIHAND or CIOTHCOMP, and leaves one or more blank, the blank values will be replaced with "No." The flag variables will indicate the value was allocated (QCILAPTOP, QCIHAND, QCIOTHCOMP).
If the value for CILAPTOP is missing and there is a write in value of a brand name, CILAPTOP will be replaced with "No." The flag variable will indicate the value was allocated (QCILAPTOP).
If the value for CILAPTOP is still missing and the write-in response is blank or ambiguous, CILAPTOP will be allocated from another household. The allocated value will be from another household with a similar value for the race and ethnicity of the householder (RACE, HISPAN), age of the householder (AGE), income (HHINCOME), and education of household (EDUC). The flag variable will indicate the value was allocated (QCILAPTOP).
If the value for CIHAND is missing and the write-in response is blank or ambiguous, CIHAND will be allocated from another household. The allocated value will be from another household with a similar value for the race and ethnicity of the householder (RACE, HISPAN), age of the householder (AGE), income (HHINCOME), and education of household (EDUC). The flag variable will indicate the value was allocated (QCIHAND).
If the value for CIOTHCOMP is missing and the write-in response is blank or ambiguous, CIOTHCOMP will be allocated from another household. The allocated value will be from another household with a similar value for the race and ethnicity of the householder (RACE, HISPAN), age of the householder (AGE), income (HHINCOME), and education of household (EDUC). The flag variable will indicate the value was allocated (QCIOTHCOMP).
If having internet access (CINETHH) is blank, but one of the types of internet access is "Yes, with a subscription" (CIMODEM, CISAT, CIDSL, CIFIBER, CIBRDBND, CIDIAL, CIOTHSVC), CINETHH will be replaced with a "Yes." The flag variable will indicate the value was allocated (QCINETHH).
If a household reports having internet, but has a "No" for all the types of intent access, CINETHH will be replaced with a missing value
If having internet access (CINETHH) is blank, and the write in value is "Wifi provided by private party" or "Wifi provided by community," CINETHH will be replaced with a "Yes, without a subscription." The flag variable will indicate the value was allocated (QCINETHH). All the variables about the type of internet will be replaced with a missing value.
If CINETHH is still missing it will be allocated from another household with a similar value for combination of computers (CILAPTOP, CIHAND or CIOTHCOMP), race and ethnicity of the householder (RACE, HISPAN), age of the householder (AGE), income (HHINCOME), and education of household (EDUC).
If the value for the type of internet is "No" or missing (CIMODEM, CISAT, CIDSL, CIFIBER, CIBRDBND, CIDIAL, or CIOTHSVC), and the write in value indicates the type of internet, that variable will be replaced with a "Yes." (Eg, if the write in value is "Dial up", CIDIAL will be replaced with a "Yes"). The flag variables will indicate if the value was allocated (QCIMODEM, QCISAT, QCIDSL, QCIFIBER, QCIBRDBND, QCIDIAL, QCIOTHSVC).
If a household reports having internet from some other type of service (CIOTHSVC) but the write-in value is ambiguous, CIOTHSVC will be replaced with a missing value.
If a household has a "Yes" for one of the types of internet service, any other type that is blank will be replaced with a "No."
If any type of internet variable has a missing value, it will be allocated. The allocated values will be from another household with a similar value for the race and ethnicity of the householder (RACE, HISPAN), age of the householder (AGE), income (HHINCOME), and education of household (EDUC). When only the variable about broadband is missing, the combination of computers in the home will also be taken in account when allocating the value. The flag variables will indicate if the value was allocated (QCIMODEM, QCISAT, QCIDSL, QCIFIBER, QCIBRDBND, QCIDIAL, QCIOTHSVC).
Internal ACS variables: LAPTOP, HANDHELP COMPOTHX ACCESS DIALUP DSL MODEM FIBEROP BROADBND SATELITE OTHSVCEX