In a recent report, the Commission for Evidence-Based Policymaking advocated for expanded use of data, including data linkage, from federal statistical and regulatory agencies to help guide decision-making and ultimately improve programs and policies. How data sharing and linkage is framed is important, and attitudes about data sharing and linkage are driven by respondents’ privacy beliefs and views towards the government more generally. Using data from the RDD telephone Gallup Daily Tracking Survey, we examine how favorability towards data sharing for the purpose of informed decision-making compares to other purposes. Respondents were less favorable towards data sharing when the purpose was for informed decision-making than for efficient use of taxpayer money, government accountability, or for community benefits, suggesting this is an ineffective way to frame data sharing to increase support. However, views towards the government, beliefs about privacy, and response behavior are still important determinants of favorability.

Within the United States Federal Statistical System, there has been interest in capturing sexual orientation (SO) and gender identity (GI), collectively known as SOGI, on surveys to allow researchers to estimate the size and distribution of sexual and gender minority populations. SOGI measurement in federal surveys may also help to identify disparities between people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) and those who do not in domains such as health, crime, or employment. Although research has been conducted on best practices for SOGI measurement in surveys, it has largely been limited to examination of selfreports. Many federal surveys use proxy reports, when one person generally responds for all household members. This research used cognitive interviews and focus groups to explore proxy response to SOGI questions. We explored potential sources of measurement error in proxy responses to SOGI questions, including sensitivity, difficulty, as well as the willingness and ability of respondents to answer SOGI questions about other household members. We also conducted paired interviews with members of the same household to assess level of agreement for SOGI questions. Findings suggest that measuring SOGI by proxy may be feasible in federal large-scale, general population surveys.

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Minimizing respondent survey burden may help decrease nonresponse and increase data quality, but the measurement of burden has varied widely. Recent efforts have paid more attention to respondents’ subjective perceptions of burden, measured through the addition of questions to a survey. Despite reliance on these questions as key measures, little qualitative research has been conducted for household surveys. This study used focus groups to examine respondents’ reactions to possible sources of burden in the American Community Survey (ACS) such as survey length, sensitivity, and contact strategy; respondents’ knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about burden; and overall perceptions of burden. Feedback was used to guide subsequent selection and cognitive testing of questions on subjective perceptions of burden. Generally, respondents did not find the ACS to be burdensome. When deciding whether it was burdensome, respondents thought about the process of responding to the questionnaire, the value of the data, that response is mandatory, and to a lesser extent, the contacts they received, suggesting these constructs are key components of burden in the ACS. There were some differences by response mode and household characteristics. Findings reinforce the importance of conducting qualitative research to ensure questions capture important respondent burden perceptions for a particular survey.