A Compass for Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data Article Critique

It is important for one to comprehend the report published by the US Census Bureau in October 2008 entitled "A Compass for Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data." It is a report produced at the aim of providing information that general users of data need to know. The American Community Survey (ACS) is a national poll which is instituted to offer the community members and citizens with reliable as well as timely data on an annual base. It mostly collects data about their demographic, social, housing and economic status (U.S. Census Bureau, 2008). After the data have been gathered, it is then released by the US Census Bureau as a report of both single year and multiyear estimates. A critique of what is entailed in the report will be analyzed in this essay. 

The ACS data is used by different parties who have various reasons why they require the report. Some of the parties that use this data include the Federal agencies that use the data in the evaluation purposes particularly on who needs educational and employment assistance. The other party is the nongovernmental organizations who use the data in the tracking process on yearly changes mainly in the welfare of youngsters, poverty level and the economic status of their parents. The others include the journalist as well as the state and local governments. The ACS data is instrumental since it offers the status of a country (U.S. Census Bureau, 2008). Through this report, the government and the concerned agencies will be able to budget themselves based on the findings of the report. The government will be able to know where to invest heavily as well as who needs help and who does not. This is a report that should be empathized on a high note since it will reduce wastage and misuse of funds on places that do not require those funds. 

Reference 

U.S. Census Bureau. (2008). A compass for understanding and using American community survey data: what general data users need to know U.S . Government Printing Office, Washington, DC.