Accuracy of the Data

The data presented on this website were obtained from a wide range of credible sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, Florida Department of Education, Florida Charts, a product of the Florida Department of Health, and numerous other federal, state and county sources.  For the most part, data from sources other than the U.S. Census Bureau are based on actual counts.

Data available from the 2000 decennial Census contain 100% population and housing counts (Summary File 1) and sample data based on a one-in-six sample (Summary File 3).  Data contained in the 2001-2006 annual American Community Surveys are based on a relatively small sample of U.S. Households.  Sample data contain both sampling error and nonsampling error.  According to the Census Bureau:

·         Sampling errors are “errors that occur because only part of the population is directly contacted. With any sample, differences are likely to exist between the characteristics of the sampled population and the larger group from which the sample was chosen. Sampling error, unlike nonsampling error, is measurable.”

·         Nonsampling errors are “errors that occur during the measuring or data collection process. Nonsampling errors can yield biased results when most of the errors distort the results in the same direction. Unfortunately, the full extent of nonsampling error is unknown. Decennial censuses traditionally have experienced nonsampling errors, most notable undercount, resulting from people being missed in the enumeration processes.”

A detailed description of the sample design and methodology for the American Community Survey and the 2000 Census can be found on the Census Bureau’s website at:  http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en

In particular, American Community Survey data for Pinellas and other counties are based on very small samples and, therefore, contain significant margins of error.  Please take this into consideration when reviewing or using the data presented on this website.  This is particularly important when the data are for a single year.  The sample sizes for Pinellas and counties of comparable size for each survey year are shown in the table below.  The 2006 sample represents approximately 1.3% of the total housing units in each county.

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