I download a 2024 ACS data extract. The data comes with a variable GQTYPED which is supposed to be a detailed responses based on very detailed type of group quarter institutions. However, I noticed that the data extract I downloaded only includes limited responses : GQTYPED=0, GQTYPED=100, GQTYPED=500, and GQTYPED=900. This variable is included in the extract although I did not select it. Does anyone know why GQTYPED variable has only limited responses? For example, if you are interested in analyzing prison population, how can you do that using ACS? Thank you
GQTYPED will be automatically included in any extract that also contains the variable GQTYPE to your data cart. GQTYPE is one of several variables that include both a general code and a more detailed coded variable; the detailed variable is automatically added to data extracts that include the general code. You can see coding for GQTYPED by clicking on the “Detailed codes” option from the GQTYPE Codes tab.
While GQTYPED identifies many specific types of group quarters in the decennial census samples, the ACS PUMS (Public Use Microdata Sample) does not provide detailed group quarters type. As a result, GQTYPED will mostly report the same information as GQTYPE. Since institutional group quarters (GQTYPED = 100) are all grouped together, it’s not possible to distinguish between individuals in different institutional group quarters (e.g., those in nursing homes and those in prisons) in the ACS.
You should also note that from 2011-onwards, the ACS PUMS file adds synthetic records for persons in group quarters as part of Group Quarters Small Area Estimation (GQSAE). To learn more, consult the 2011 PUMS accuracy document which states that “the GQ population sample has been supplemented by a large-scale whole person imputation into not-in-sample GQ facilities.”