SOC 3223 Lecture 5: Demography Data Sources and IPUMS/PRB/ACS (Vocabulary Flashcards)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key data sources, datasets, and terminology from the lecture notes on demography data sources, IPUMS/PRB/ACS, and related concepts.

American Community Survey (ACS)

U.S. Census Bureau program that provides annual moving data on the population and housing; replaced the decennial long-form; uses samples (historically 1%); supplies 1-year estimates for large areas and 5-year estimates for smaller geographies.

ACS 1% sample

A 1% sample of households used to produce ACS data; part of the shift from a one-time census snapshot to ongoing yearly data.

ACS 1-year vs 5-year estimates

1-year estimates cover large geographies (nation, states, large metros); 5-year estimates cover smaller areas and provide more stable data by pooling five years.

Geographies in ACS

Geographic units used to report ACS data: blocks, block groups, census tracts, places (cities), counties, and states.

Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS)

A suite of harmonized census and survey microdata from around the world, enabling cross-time and cross-country demographic research.

IPUMS USA

U.S. census and ACS microdata (1790–present, including 2000s); harmonized variables for comparisons.

IPUMS CPS

IPUMS microdata from the Current Population Survey, including basic monthly surveys and supplements (1962–present).

IPUMS INTERNATIONAL

World’s largest collection of census microdata covering 100+ countries, both contemporary and historical.

NHGIS

National Historical GIS: U.S. Census summary tables and GIS data from 1790 to the present.

IPUMS Health Surveys

IPUMS data collections related to health surveys (e.g., NHIS, MEPS) incorporated for harmonized health research.

Population Reference Bureau (PRB)

Organization that provides demographic data and analysis; publishes resources like the World Population Data Sheet.

PRB World Population Data Sheet

Annual data sheet with demographic, health, and population indicators by region and country, plus health workforce and PHC data.

Primary Health Care (PHC)

Health system approach focused on accessible, continuous, comprehensive, and coordinated care for all life stages; aims to improve population health with a strong health workforce.

Nursing and Midwifery Personnel per 10,000 Population

A PHC metric showing the density of nurses and midwives per 10,000 people; used to assess health workforce capacity.

GNI per Capita, PPP

Gross National Income per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity; used to compare income levels across countries.

Hometowns of SOC 3223 students

Dataset describing demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of students’ hometowns (2019–2023 respondents).

data.census.gov

Official U.S. Census Bureau portal for exploring tables, maps, and profiles from the Census and ACS data.

Decennial census long form

Historical portion of the decennial census that collected extensive socioeconomic data; replaced by the ACS after 2005.

National censuses

Official nationwide counts of the population, typically conducted at regular intervals (e.g., every 10 years in the U.S.).

Registration systems

Systems that record vital events (births, deaths, marriages) and populations, contributing to demographic statistics.

Vital statistics

Records of births, deaths, and other life events used to measure mortality and population health.

Surveys

Structured data collection from a sample of the population to estimate demographic characteristics; includes surveys like the ACS.

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

U.S. government agency that collects and reports data on labor market activity, including monthly jobs and unemployment statistics.

Jobs data reliability (NYT article)

Discussion of whether ongoing jobs data are trustworthy; acknowledges safeguards and potential political influence but notes revisions and context matter.

Block groups vs. census tract

Small geographic units used in census data; a census tract is subdivided into block groups; used for detailed spatial analysis.