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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.
|
Year |
Pinellas |
Duval |
Hillsborough |
Orange |
Palm Beach |
|
2001 |
1,619 |
1,224 |
1,624 |
1,380 |
2,139 |
|
2002 |
1,487 |
1,113 |
1,476 |
1,284 |
1,961 |
|
2003 |
1,840 |
1,286 |
1,694 |
1,443 |
2,203 |
|
2004 |
1,843 |
1,234 |
1,679 |
1,474 |
2,228 |
|
2005 |
6,365 |
4,278 |
6,184 |
5,221 |
8,027 |
|
2006 |
6,343 |
4,487 |
6,432 |
5,411 |
8,236 |
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