Working with Census.gov

This four course track describes the architecture and analysis of the United States Census Bureau and its products. Course instructor Chris Williamson delves into the inner workings of the U.S. Census, covering such topics as how the Census works, where different kinds of Census data come from, data table analysis, web-based tools, and more. Each course in this track is approved for AICP CM credit.

Working with Census.gov 1: Background and Geography

This first of four courses on the Census -- Background and Geography -- will prime you to understand how the Census works, where the data comes from, as well as vital terminology and data sets you should be familiar with in the built environment.

77 Mins

Working with Census.gov 2: Topics, Programs, Products

This second of four courses delves deeper into the Census 'architecture'. In course 2 of "Working with Census.gov", Dr. Chris Williamson, a.k.a. Dr. Data, provides an overview on the federally mandated topics that lead to programs which ultimately produce products for the public. Course 2 also delves into such tricky topics as Census data table analysis and gives insider tips and goodies from a Census Bureau veteran.

75 Mins

Working with Census.gov 3: Interacting with the Data

This third of four courses takes you into a series of live demonstrations and in-depth explanations and visuals from the Census.gov and American FactFiner websites. The course covers a comprehensive navigation of the pages, tools and interactive databases that form the expansive Census website and publicly accessible data stores and produced information.

65 Mins

Working with Census.gov 4: Quality, Interpreting and Examples

Chris Williamson, A.K.A. "Dr. Data" completes the final episode in this four course series on the 'architecture' and 'analysis' of the Census Bureau and its many products. In course 4 students will go through a brief introduction to margin of error and a range of error and data quality analysis. Along with some examples and case studies, this course takes us into Dr. Data's own Ventura County, California for a look at some of the more challenging sampling and non-sampling errors many planners and demographers must wrestle with.

64 Mins

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