Feasibility of Using an Online Individual Census Questionnaire in 2030: Focus Group Findings from Group Quarter Administrators

The U.S. Census Bureau conducted focus groups to gather information about the feasibility of using an online individual census questionnaire in seven different group quarters (GQ) types. Taken in hand with the conclusions drawn from the GQ suitability survey (Piccirillo et al. forthcoming), we were able to confirm which types of GQs might be strong candidates for an internet self-response (ISR) option and which GQs to rule out. We recommend three GQ types for self-enumeration using an online reporting option which also matched the survey results: college housing, workers' quarters and Job Corps centers, and religious quarters. We also recommend moving forward to test email as the notification mode for the residents. Finally, we recommend developing supplemental programming surrounding the census to promote why the census is important and why it is important to be counted at the group quarters.