Summary of 1990 Census Edit and Allocation Procedures

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The edit and allocation procedures for the 1990 census were never published by the Census Bureau. The material in this section was included in a March 20, 1997 memo from the Bureau to the Historical Census Projects. In the original memorandum, each variable description included a display of the original census question(s) involved. Users can view the entire 1980 Census form in Section 3.2 of this volume.

ANCESTR1 / ANCESTR2

Ancestry, 1st and 2nd Response
Flag Name: QANCEST1 and QANCEST2

Pre-edits: The order of pre-edits is the priority for the changes.

  1. If 1st ancestry and/or 2nd ancestry are blank, change either/both to not reported.
  2. If 1st ancestry is deferred, change to uncodable.
  3. If 2nd ancestry is mixed, uncodable, or deferred, change to not reported.
  4. If 1st ancestry is not "American," "White," or miscellaneous and 2nd ancestry is "American," "White," or miscellaneous, change 2nd ancestry to not reported.
  5. If 1st ancestry is "White," "States, US" or miscellaneous and 2nd ancestry is "American," change 1st ancestry to "American" and 2nd ancestry to not reported.
  6. If 1st ancestry is "States, US" or miscellaneous and 2nd ancestry is not "States, US" or miscellaneous (001-939), change 1st ancestry to 2nd ancestry and 2nd ancestry to not reported.
  7. If 1st ancestry is "White" and 2nd ancestry is "States, US" or miscellaneous, do not change 1st ancestry and change 2nd ancestry to not reported.
  8. If 1st ancestry is Scandinavian and 2nd ancestry is Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, or Swedish, change Scandinavian (1st ancestry) to more specific ancestry and change 2nd ancestry to not reported.
  9. If 1st ancestry is French and 2nd ancestry is Canadian, change 1st ancestry to French Canadian and 2nd ancestry to not reported.
  10. If 1st ancestry is Scotch or Irish and 2nd ancestry is Irish or Scotch, change 1st ancestry to Scotch Irish and 2nd ancestry to not reported.
  11. If 1st ancestry is Black or German and 2nd ancestry is German or Black, change1st ancestry to Black German and 2nd ancestry to not reported.
  12. If 1st ancestry is Black or Irish and 2nd ancestry is Irish or Black, change 1st ancestry to Black Irish and 2nd ancestry to not reported.
  13. If 1st ancestry is Black or Dutch and 2nd ancestry is Dutch or Black, change 1st ancestry to Black Dutch and 2nd ancestry to not reported.
  14. If 1st ancestry is Black or Russian and 2nd ancestry is Russian or Black, change 1st ancestry to Black Russian and 2nd ancestry to not reported.
  15. If 1st ancestry is Black or Thai and 2nd ancestry is Thai or Black, change 1st ancestry to Black Thai and 2nd ancestry to not reported.
  16. If 1st or 2nd ancestry is reserved code 863, change 1st or 2nd ancestry to not reported.
  17. If 1st or 2nd ancestry is reserved code 864, change 1st or 2nd ancestry to not reported.
  18. If 1st ancestry is Mexican or American and 2nd ancestry is American or Mexican, change 1st ancestry to Mexican American and 2nd ancestry to not reported.
  19. If 1st ancestry is Spanish or American and 2nd ancestry is American or Spanish, change 1st ancestry to Spanish American and 2nd ancestry to not reported.

CITIZEN & YRIMMIG

Pre-Edits:

  1. If BPL is a State or Puerto Rico or outlying area, then CITIZEN must be 0 (born in the U.S.) or 1 (born in Puerto Rico, Guam or outlying area). All other values are declared invalid and marked for allocation.
  2. If BPL is not a State, Puerto Rico or outlying area then the value of CITIZEN must be 2 (born abroad of American parents), 3 (U.S. citizen by naturalization) or 4 (not a citizen of the U.S.). All other values are declared invalid and marked for allocation.
  3. If subject is born abroad and the subject's parents are present in the household, check CITIZEN value of parents. If subject's CITIZEN code is 2 (born abroad of American parents), then parents' CITIZEN codes must be 0 (born in the U.S.), 1 (born in Puerto Rico, Guam or outlying area), or 2 (born abroad of American parents). If not, subject's CITIZEN entry is declared invalid and marked for allocation.
  4. If CITIZEN is 0 (born in the U.S.), then YRIMMIG must be blank. If an entry is given for YRIMMIG, change it to blank.
  5. If CITIZEN is 3 (U.S. citizen by naturalization) or 4 (not a citizen of the U.S.), then YRIMMIG must have a value greater than 0. If not, mark record for allocation.
  6. If CITIZEN is 3 or 4 and YRIMMIG has an entry greater than 0, check that subject's YRIMMIG value is consistent with subject's AGE. If YRIMMIG is out of the range for AGE, then YRIMMIG is declared invalid and marked for allocation.

Variables Used for Hot Deck Allocation:

EDUCATION

Universe check:

  1. If subject is less than 3 years old, SCHOOL and YEARSCH must be coded 0 (N/A). Change non-zero entries to 0.

Pre-Edits:

  1. Minimum grade of enrollment:
    1. If AGE is >8 and SCHOOL is yes, then YEARSCH must be ³ 3. If AGE is >9 and SCHOOL is yes, then YEARSCH must be ³ 4. If AGE is >15 and SCHOOL is yes, then YEARSCH must be ³ 5. If not, YEARSCH is blanked for subsequent allocation.
    2. If SCHOOL is yes, the following AGE/ YEARSCH values are valid but these records are not used as donor in the allocation procedure. If AGE is 7 or 8, YEARSCH values of 1 or 2 are allowed. If AGE is 9, a YEARSCH value of 3 is valid. If AGE is 10-15, a YEARSCH value of 4 is allowed.
  2. Age-Grade Consistency Checks:
    1. If AGE is 3, a YEARSCH of £ 3 is allowed; a YEARSCH >3 is blanked for allocation.
    2. If AGE is 4-7, a YEARSCH of £ 4 is allowed; a YEARSCH >4 is blanked for allocation.
    3. If AGE is 8-11, a YEARSCH of £ 5 is allowed; a YEARSCH >5 is blanked for allocation.
    4. If AGE is 12, a YEARSCH of £ 6 is allowed; a YEARSCH >6 is blanked for allocation.
    5. If AGE is 13, a YEARSCH of £ 7 is allowed; a YEARSCH >7 is blanked for allocation.
    6. If AGE is 14, a YEARSCH of £ 8 is allowed; a YEARSCH >8 is blanked for allocation.
    7. If AGE is 15, a YEARSCH of £ 11 is allowed; a YEARSCH >11 is blanked for allocation.
    8. If AGE is 16-18, a YEARSCH of £ 13 is allowed; a YEARSCH >13 is blanked for allocation.
    9. If AGE is 19, a YEARSCH of £ 14 is allowed; a YEARSCH >14 is blanked for allocation.
    10. If AGE is 20, a YEARSCH of £ 15 is allowed; a YEARSCH >15 is blanked for allocation.
    11. If AGE is >20, a missing YEARSCH is allowed.
  3. If the subject is between 3 and 17 years of AGE and no entry is given for YEARSCH, mark YEARSCH for allocation if SCHOOL is yes.
  4. If the subject is between 3 and 17 years of age and no entry is given for YEARSCH, do not mark YEARSCH for allocation if SCHOOL is no.

Variables Used for Hot Deck Allocation:

CHBORN — Children Ever Born

Pre-Edit:

  1. AGE / CHBORN consistency check: If AGE minus CHBORN ³ 11, CHBORN is valid. If AGE minus CHBORN is <11, mark CHBORN for allocation.

Variables Used in Hot Deck Allocation:

SPANISH/HISPANIC ORIGIN

Variables Used in Hot Deck Allocation:

Edit and Allocation Proceduress:

  1. If the Other Hispanic circle is filled and:
    1. If special entry write-in is non-Hispanic, ignore write-in and code other Hispanic.
    2. If special entry write-in is a two-part non-Hispanic/Hispanic entry, assign specific Hispanic code using the second part of the write-in.
    3. If special entry write-in is non-Hispanic or American, assign code 400 (supporting evidence of being Hispanic found) if responses to ANCESTR1, ANCESTR2, BPL, RACE or LANGUAGE indicate Hispanic origin.
    4. If special entry write-in is non-Hispanic or American, assign code 005 if no response is given to ANCESTR1, ANCESTR2, BPL and LANGUAGE.
    5. If special entry write-in is American, assign code 401 (no supporting evidence of Hispanic origin).
    6. If special entry write-in is not Hispanic, assign code 199 (no supporting evidence of Hispanic origin).
    7. If there is no special entry write-in or it's uncodable, assign a specific Hispanic origin value using ANCESTR2, RACE, or BPL.
    8. If there is no special entry write-in or if it's uncodable, assign code 005 (no supporting evidence) if no response is given to ANCESTR2, RACE, or BPL.
  2. If no circle is filled:
    1. Assign a specific Hispanic origin from the special entry write-in.
    2. Assign a Not Hispanic Origin code if the special entry write-in is a two-part non-Hispanic/Hispanic entry.
    3. Assign a Not Hispanic Origin code from the special entry write-in.
    4. If the special entry write-in is not reported, American or uncodable, assign a specific Hispanic origin code from the ANCESTR2, RACE or BPL entries.
    5. If the special entry write-in is not reported, American or uncodable, assign a Not Hispanic Origin code from the ANCESTR2, RACE or BPL entries.
    6. Assign origin of spouse from the householder.
    7. Assign origin of child, stepchild, grandchild from a female householder or a female spouse or a male householder, in that order.
    8. Assign origin of brother/sister, parent, other relative, unmarried partner or housemate/roommate from the householder.
    9. Assign origin of roomer/boarder or other non-relative from a like person or the householder.
    10. Assign origin of householder from the relationship matrix.
    11. Assign origin of householder from a 100% hot deck value.
    12. Assign origin of persons in group quarters from a 100% hot deck value.

LANGUAGE QUESTIONS:

LANG1 (Language other than English at home)
LANG2 (Language spoken at home)
ENGLISH (Ability to speak English)

Consistency Checks:

  1. Universe check: If AGE <5, change non-zero entries in LANG1, LANG2 and ENGLISH to 0.
  2. If LANG1 is no but a non-English language is specified for LANG2, change LANG1 to yes and blank out values for LANG2 and ENGLISH.
  3. If LANG1 is yes, speaks another language:
    1. But LANG2 is English, change LANG1 to no and give LANG2 and ENGLISH codes of 0 (N/A).
    2. But ENGLISH has a value of 0 (speaks only English), blank ENGLISH for allocation.
    3. But LANG2 is not in the universe, mark LANG2 for allocation.
  4. If LANG1 is blank:
    1. And LANG2 is English, change LANG1 to no (speaks only English) and give LANG2 and ENGLISH codes of 0 (N/A).
    2. And LANG2 is not English, change LANG1 to yes.
    3. And LANG2 is not English and ENGLISH has a value of 0 (speaks only English), change LANG1 to yes and blank ENGLISH for allocation.
    4. And LANG2 is not in the universe, mark LANG1, LANG2 and ENGLISH for allocation.

Logical Edit:

  1. If LANG1 is no, make LANG2 and ENGLISH not in the universe.
  2. If LANG1 is yes and LANG2 is blank, assign the same value of LANG2 as the closest relative (in order according to the chart) encountered in the household who also has a yes in LANG1.

    Priority Order of Donor Relative by RELATE of Subject:

    Householder
    brother/sister

    father/mother
    son/daughter
    husband/wife
    stepson/stepdaughter
    grandchild
    other relative

    Husband/wife
    householder

    son/daughter
    stepson/stepdaughter
    grandchild
    brother/sister
    father/mother
    other relative

    Son/daughter
    householder

    husband/wife
    son/daughter
    brother/sister
    father/mother
    stepson/stepdaughter
    grandchild
    other relative

    Stepson/stepdaughter
    stepson/daughter

    husband/wife
    son/daughter
    householder
    brother/sister
    mother/father
    grandchild
    other relative

    Brother/sister
    brother/sister

    householder
    father/mother
    grandchild
    other relative
    son/daughter
    stepson/stepdaughter
    husband/wife

    Father/mother
    father/mother

    brother/sister
    householder
    husband/wife
    son/daughter
    grandchild
    other relative
    stepson/stepdaughter

    Grandchild
    grandchild

    son/daughter
    householder
    husband/wife
    brother/sister
    father/mother
    stepson/stepdaughter
    other relative

    Other relative
    other relative

    householder
    husband/wife
    son/daughter
    brother/sister
    father/mother
    grandchild
    stepson/stepdaughter

    Unmarried partner
    householder
  3. If LANG1 is yes and BPL is 180 (born in the USSR), then LANG2 is imputed from RACE and ANCESTRY.
  4. If LANG1 is yes and LANG2 is given, then the value of ENGLISH is imputed from AGE, HISPANIC ORIGIN, CITIZEN, YRIMMIG, and LANG2 recoded.

Variables Used in Hot Deck Allocation:

Allocation Procedures:

  1. If the subject is a household head and there is a person in the household with LANG1 filled who is related to the subject householder (brother/sister; father/mother; husband/wife; or son/daughter under 15, in that order) and CITIZEN is known for both, then assign a value of LANG1 from the relative based on subject's CITIZEN, ETHNIC recode, and AGE and the relative's RELATE, CITIZEN, and LANG1.
  2. If the subject is either (a) a foreign born household head with other relatives present in the household or (b) a person with no relatives in the household (either a household head with no relatives present or a non-relative), then LANG1 is imputed from HHREL, BPL country recode, AGE, and YRIMMIG.
  3. If the subject is either (a) a native born household head or (b) a nonrelative, then LANG1 is imputed from HHREL, HISPANIC ORIGIN, RACE and GE, ANCESTRY and SEX

    1. If the subject is not a household head and LANG1 is blank, then assign the same value for LANG1 as the previous person who matches subject on RELATE, CITIZEN, ETHNIC recode, CITIZEN of householder, AGE of householder, and LANG1 of householder.
    2. If LANG1 is yes and householder LANG1 is also yes, then assign the subject the same LANG2 as the head of his own household (not the donor householder's LANG2).
  4. If other persons in household fit both Asian Indian and American Indian categories, choose the characteristics of the first person encountered.

ESR -- EMPLOYMENT STATUS RECODE

Variables Used:

ESR Values:

0 Not in universe (less than 16 years old)
1 Employed, at work
2 Employed, with a job but not at work
3 Unemployed
4 Armed Forces, at work
5 Armed Forces, with a job but not at work
6 Not in labor force

Pre-Edits:

  1. If AGE is less than 16, make ESR 1.
  2. If GQTYPE indicates subject is institutionalized, make ESR 6.
  3. If the subject is not in the labor force (IND = 998) and if:
    1. TEMPABSENT is 1 (yes, on layoff) and LOOKWORK and AVAILABLE are blank, make ESR 3.
    2. TEMPABSENT is 3 or 0 (no or not reported); LOOKWORK is yes and AVAILABLE is 1, 2, or 4, then make ESR 3.
    3. Else, make ESR 6.
  4. If the subject is in the military and on active duty (IND 940-960), assign ESR of 4 or 5 based on WORKLASTWEEK, HRSWORKED, TEMPWORK, LOOKING, AVAILABLE, DATELASTWORKED, and PLACEOFWORK.
  5. If the subject is not in the military and total self-employment income is $15,000 or more, assign an ESR of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 6 based on WORKLASTWEEK, HRSWORKED, TEMPWORK, LOOKING, AVAILABLE, DATELASTWORKED, and PLACEOFWORK.
  6. If YEAR LAST WORKED is earlier than 1985, change ESR from 2 to 6.
  7. If YEAR LAST WORKED is "never worked," change ESR from 2 to 3.
  8. If subject is an Armed Forces member who reports 0 hours worked, make ESR 5.
  9. If subject is not a member of the Armed Forces and reports 0 hours worked, make ESR 2.

Allocation:

  1. Assign the same value of ESR as the closest person with the same AGE, SEX and GQTYPE as the subject.

EMPLOYMENT STATUS COMPONENTS

TEMPABSENST
LOOKING
AVAILABLE

Variables Used:

Universe Check:

  1. If the subject is younger than 16 or at work in the military (ESR = 0 or 4, then make ABSENT, LOOKING and AVAILABLE not in the universe (0).

HRSWKWK Hours Worked Last Week

Variables Used:

Universe Check:

  1. If subject is less than 16, unemployed, not in the labor force or not at work (ESR = 0, 2, 3, 5, or 6), then make HRSWKWK not in the universe (0).

Allocation Procedure:

  1. If HRSWKWK is 0 or not reported, assign the same value of HRSWKWK as the previous person with the same AGE, SEX, GQTYPE and ESR as the subject.

WORK EXPERIENCE:

WORK LAST YEAR
WEEKS WORKED LAST YEAR
USUAL HOURS WORKED

Variables Used:

Edits:

  1. Universe Check: If subject is less than 16 (ESR=0), then make WORKLASYR, WKSWORKED and USHRS not in universe).
  2. If subject is not in the labor force (IND=998) and if there is no wage and salary or self-employment income (WAGESAL, NONFARM SELF INC and FARM SELF INC all equal 2), then make WORK LAST YEAR no (2). Skip the next step.
  3. All other values of WORK LAST YEAR, are checked for consistency with entries in WKSWK LAST YEAR, USUAL HOURS WORKED, WAGESAL, NONFARM SELF INC, FARM SELF INC, ESR, and YRLASTWORKED as well as non-zeros in IND, OCC and CLASSWKR. Inconsistent entries are changed or blanked for later allocation.
  4. If the subject is not working without pay in a family business or firm (CLASSWKR=8) and if there is no income reported in WAGESAL, NONFARM SELF INC or FARM SELF INC, assign WORKLASYR as follows:

    1. If the subject is employed or in the Armed Forces (ESR=1, 2, 4 or 5), the WORKLASTYR =1.
    2. If the subject is unemployed or not in the labor force (ESR=3 or 6), then:

      1. If YRLASTWORK is 1987 or 1988, make WORKLASTYR =1 (yes).
      2. If YRLASTWORK 1986 or earlier, make WORKLASTYR=2 (no).
      3. If YRLASTWORK =0 (not reported), make WORKLASTYR=1 (yes).
  5. All other allocations are done in the JOINT ALLOCATION SYSTEM.

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