2010-03-15-皮尤-With_Growing_Awareness_of_Census,_Most_Ready_to_Fill_Out_Forms_21页_86kb

2010 U.S. Census Participation Summary

Core Content

This report from the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, released on March 16, 2010, highlights public awareness and attitudes toward the 2010 U.S. Census. It outlines that most Americans are aware of the census and are likely to participate, with factors such as age and education playing a significant role in participation rates, while partisanship is not a major determinant.

Main Points

• High Awareness:

  • 94% of Americans have heard of the U.S. Census.
  • 79% have heard something about it recently.
  • This represents a notable increase in awareness since January.

• Participation Intentions:

  • 87% of Americans say they will definitely or probably fill out and return the census form, or have already done so.
  • This is a 6-point increase from January.
  • 70% say they definitely will participate or have already completed the form, up from 58% in January.

• Demographic Differences in Participation:

  • Younger people (under 30) are significantly less likely to participate (45% say they definitely will).
  • Hispanics are less likely than white and black non-Hispanics to participate, but this gap has narrowed since January.
  • College graduates and those in higher-income households are more likely to participate (82% and 81%, respectively).
  • Republicans are slightly more likely than Democrats and Independents to intend to participate (74% vs. 72% and 67%).

• Partisan Views on Importance and Impact:

  • Democrats are more likely than Republicans or Independents to believe the census is very important (76% vs. 61% and 61%).
  • Republicans are more likely to think the census benefits the Democratic Party more than the Republican Party (18% vs. 5% of Democrats).
  • Despite these views, Republicans are not more resistant to participation than Democrats.

• Perceptions of Impact:

  • 62% believe the census will benefit their community, while 29% think it will have no effect and 3% think it will harm it.
  • 33% believe the census will benefit them personally, up from 27% in January.
  • 57% think it will neither benefit nor harm them personally.

• Civic Responsibility:

  • 79% of the public believes participating in the census is a civic responsibility.
  • Young people (under 30) are less likely to see it as a civic duty (66% vs. 79% for those aged 30-49).
  • Blacks, Hispanics, and less-educated individuals are also less likely to view it as a civic responsibility.

• Confidentiality and Time Concerns:

  • 61% believe the Census Bureau will keep personal information confidential.
  • 45% believe the government asks only for the personal information it really needs.
  • 27% think the census asks for too much personal information.
  • 83% do not expect the census to take too much time to complete.

Key Information

• Census Awareness:

  • A 94% awareness rate of the census among Americans.
  • 79% have heard about it recently, showing increased public engagement.

• Participation Trends:

  • 70% of respondents say they will definitely or probably complete the census.
  • 90% of the population includes those who themselves or someone in their household will participate.

• Demographic Trends:

  • Age: Older Americans (50+) are more likely to participate (84%) compared to younger groups.
  • Education: College graduates are more likely to participate (89%) than those with less education.
  • Income: Those in households earning $75,000 or more are more likely to participate (81%) than those with lower incomes.

• Political Attitudes:

  • Democrats are more likely to see personal and community benefits from the census.
  • Republicans are more likely to think the census benefits the Democratic Party more than the Republican Party.
  • There is no significant partisan difference in participation intentions when other demographics are considered.

• Survey Methodology:

  • Conducted from March 10-14, 2010, among 1,500 adults.
  • Sample weighted to match population demographics.
  • Interviews conducted in English and Spanish.

• Sampling Error:

  • 3.0 percentage points for the total sample.
  • 6.5%, 5.5%, and 5.5% for Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, respectively.

Conclusion

The report indicates that while most Americans are aware of the census and intend to participate, certain demographic groups such as young people, Hispanics, and those with lower education or income levels are less likely to do so. Partisanship does not significantly affect participation rates, but there are differences in how the census is perceived in terms of importance and impact. Overall, the public holds generally favorable views about the census, seeing it as a civic responsibility and not as a time-consuming or costly endeavor.