Featured Reports in National Statistics

The reports featured on this page are representative of the wide variety of reports on education that the National Academies produces. Please see the following links for DBASSE’s most recent reports or a listing of all reports.

		What is meant by the cost of living and how can we measure it? At What Price? addresses how well the Consumer Price Index (CPI) reflects changes in the cost of living that people actually face. Given how that index is used, is it desirable to construct it as a cost-of-living index? The report examines the foundations for cost-of-living and price indexes and recommends how the Bureau of Labor Statistics could continue to improve the accuracy and relevance of the CPI.
		How can we take an accurate census of a society that is constantly changing? The 2000 Census: Counting Under Adversity comprehensively reviews the planning and conduct of the census and the quality of the resulting data. It covers the completeness of the planning for 2000, including the proposed role of statistical techniques in enumeration and possible adjustment for errors in counting the population, and recommends improvements in the planning and design of future censuses and for possible adjustment for errors in counting the population. Reengineering the 2010 Census: Risk and Challenges extends this work, using lessons from the 2000 census experience to thoroughly review the major changes proposed for the 2010 decennial cycle.
		How can we measure the role of current and past discrimination in explaining the persistence of large disparities among racial and ethnic groups in the United States? Measuring Racial Discrimination considers the definition of race and racial discrimination, reviews the existing techniques used to measure racial discrimination, and identifies new tools and areas for future research. The book conducts a thorough evaluation of current methodologies for a wide range of circumstances in which racial discrimination may occur, and makes recommendations on how to better assess the presence and effects of discrimination.
		How can we allow researchers access to data without compromising confidentiality? Private Lives and Public Policies explores the seeming conflicts between the increasing concern about the privacy of personal information and the access needed to data from that information for research purposes and public policy decisions. It offers principles and specific recommendations for managing the confidentiality of data in order to respect the privacy of respondents while at the same time meeting needs for important uses of the data.