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AHS: Missing Type C Records in 2005 Dataset

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The 2005 American Housing Survey dataset is missing some records representing units that were classified as "type C" non-interviews in 2003. We will be issuing an updated dataset at some point in the future to correct this.

What does this mean? When an address in the AHS sample cannot be interviewed, it is classified as one of three types of non-interview. A "type A" non-interview occurs when the address contains a housing unit, but the interview cannot be completed (for example, because the household refuses). A "type B" non-interview occurs when the structure is not a housing unit but may become one later (for example, nonresidential use or repairable damage). A "type C" non-interview occurs when the structure is not a housing unit and never will be (for example, burned down, demolished, or building permit never used). The variable NOINT in the dataset is used to indicate the type and reason for non-interviews.

Because the AHS is a longitudinal survey, the records of Type C noninterview cases are maintained in the dataset, even though the Census field representatives no longer attempt to conduct interviews at those addresses. However, some of the units that were classified as type C in the 2003 national survey are not in the 2005 dataset. This is the mistake that will be corrected.

Note that, since the units were type C in 2003, no information was collected about them in that year, let alone in 2005. Noninterview cases always have weights (WEIGHT, WGT90GEO) equal to zero, although their pure weights (PWT) are greater than zero.

If your work requires accounting for these units, you can always go back to the 2003 dataset and extract the records for the missing units. Type C records have a value of NOINT between 30 and 38, inclusive.

Dav Vandenbroucke
Senior Economist
U.S. Dept. HUD
david_a._vandenbroucke@hud.gov
202-708-1060 ext. 5890