This paper reports on the results of a split-ballot experiment conducted in 1987 to test alternative versions of the decennial census long form. Two forms were randomly assigned and self-administered in group sessions involving a total of 515 respondents. The order of race and Hispanic origin items was experimentally manipulated. The standard long form asks race, then Hispanic origin. The experimental form reversed the order of the items in order to reduce perceived redundancy, and to create a more restricted frame of reference for the race item. The objectives of the context manipulation were (1) to reduce item nonresponse for the Hispanic origin item, and (2) to reduce reporting of "Other race" by Hispanics in the race item. Objective (1) was met. Objective (2) was met for Hispanics born in a U.S. state, but not for immigrants. The results are interpreted as reflecting a process of acculturation that affects how Hispanic respondents apply U.S. racial categories "white" and "black" in the census.The survey methodology literature contains much evidence of the effect of question sequencing on response to questions. This work has, in large part, involved attitude items (see Schuman and Presser, 1981;Turner and Martin, 1984). The effect of question order may derive from the context invoked by prior questions, which may influence respondents' frame of reference or suggest different interpretations of the question.
The last decade has seen dramatic changes in how U.S. society views and recognizes same-sex couples. U.S. Census Bureau employees, Nancy Bates and Theresa J. DeMaio, chronicle recent efforts taken by the Census Bureau to update and improve the measurement and counting of same-sex couples.
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