A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF THE 1960 CENSUSES OF POPULATION AND HOUSING.

The article summarizes the findings to date of the work on the evaluation of the quality of the 1960 Censuses of Population and Housing. It analyzes of the accuracy of the 1960 Census count of the total resident population of the United States relative to that of the 1950 Census. The discussion relates to the net change in total resident population of the United States as indicated by the 1960 and 1950 Censuses and to independent estimates of components of change during the decade, providing some evidence about whether the 1960 level of net undercount differs appreciably from the 1950 level. On the whole, it is concluded that there were improvements in the quality of the 1960 Census as compared with 1950. Some of the indicated improvements have been substantial and some have been minor. Publication of results has been much earlier than in the comparable period following 1950. Costs were less than would have been indicated by the changes in price levels and the growth of the population and there was an increase in the amount of information that was made available.