The Contributions of Don Dillman to the U.S. Federal Statistical System

Music City Center 

Relevant, timely, credible, and objective statistical information is part of the foundation of democracy and the fundamental responsibility of the U.S. federal statistical system. Don Dillman's multiple-decade partnership with the U.S. federal statistical system, including an appointment at the U.S. Census Bureau, enabled statistical agencies to uphold this fundamental responsibility by (1) enhancing the relevance of federal statistics through respondent-center survey design; (2) increasing timeliness by mode innovation; (3) maintaining credibility through data collection methodological rigor; and (4) ensuring objectivity using approaches designed to reduce nonresponse and measurement error. This memorial session paper will highlight Don's contributions to the U.S. federal statistical system by sharing and discussing the innovations he introduced through his consultations with various agencies, the advances he led at the U.S. Census Bureau while serving as the Senior Survey Methodologist, and the partnerships, collaborations, and friendships he developed with the federal statistical community during his distinguished and unprecedented career.

Federal Statistical System

Survey methodology

Data collection

U.S. Census Bureau