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We ask for the name of each person in the household for two
reasons. First, we have found over many years of research that
it is easier for a respondent to keep track of which person they
are answering for if the names are used. If you are interrupted
while completing the survey, it will be easier to resume if you
know which person you were working on, particularly in larger
households.
The second reason is administrative. In some instances,
responses are difficult to interpret, or missing critical
information. If we have the name and telephone number of the
person who completed the survey, we can call to collect
missing information or ask for clarification. By having the name
of each household member, we can more easily refer to
specific information.
Without the name and phone number, we would have to send a field representative to gather the information
in person, which is more expensive than a phone call.
Your privacy concerns
We use your confidential survey answers to create statistics like those in the results below and in the full tables that
contain all the data—no one is able to figure out your survey answers from the statistics we produce. The Census
Bureau is legally bound to strict confidentiality requirements. Individual records are not shared with anyone, including
federal agencies and law enforcement entities. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share respondents' answers with
anyone, including companies, other federal agencies, and law enforcement.
Question as it appears on the form
We ask one question about the name of each person to help with the administration of the data
collection.
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VIEW QUESTION
Results from this question
Contact information is not part of published estimates and is carefully protected, as required by federal law, to respect
the personal information of respondents.
History of the name question
The name question originated with the 1790 Census. It was added to the ACS in 2005 when it replaced the decennial census lon
form.
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