An application of the Fellegi-Sunter model of record linkage to the 1990 US decennial census

Abstract

This paper describes a methodology for computer matching the Post Enumeration Survey with the Census. Computer matching is the first stage of a process for producing adjusted Census counts. All crucial matching parameters are computed solely using characteristics of the files being matched. No a priori knowledge of truth of matches is assumed. No previously created lookup tables are needed. The methods are illustrated with numerical results using files from the 1988 Dress Rehearsal Census for which the truth of matches is known