Appendix D. Desired and Acceptable Coefficients of Variation (CVs) for Estimates of the S&E Population
| Group of interest |
Desired CV (%) |
Acceptable CV (%) |
1997 SESTAT integrated database CV (%) |
|
| Total population |
0.1 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
| |
|
|
|
| Highest degree level |
|
|
|
| Associate |
1.0 |
1.5 |
N/A |
| Bachelor |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
| Master |
0.4 |
0.6 |
0.8 |
| Doctorate |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.8 |
| Professional |
1.0 |
1.5 |
1.6 |
| |
|
|
|
| Race/ethnicity |
|
|
|
| Hispanic |
0.8 |
1.0 |
1.6 |
| White |
0.8 |
1.0 |
0.2 |
| Black |
0.8 |
1.0 |
1.3 |
| Asian/Pacific Islander |
0.8 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
| Other |
3.0 |
As it falls out based on sampling |
5.7 for American Indian/Alaska Native |
| |
|
|
|
| Citizenship |
|
|
|
| U.S.citizen – native |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
| U.S. citizen – naturalized |
1.5 |
1.5 |
1.6 |
| Non-U.S. citizen, permanent resident |
1.5 |
1.5 |
2.8 |
| Non-U.S. citizen, temporary resident |
3.0 |
As it falls out based on sampling |
5.6 |
| |
|
|
|
| Sex |
|
|
|
| Female |
0.1 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
| Male |
0.2 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
| |
|
|
|
| Age cohort |
|
|
|
| <30 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
1.2 |
| 30–39 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
0.8 |
| 40–49 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
0.7 |
| 50–59 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
| 60–75 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
1.2 |
| |
|
|
|
| Disability status |
|
|
|
| Nondisabled |
1.0 |
1.5 |
0.2 |
| Disabled |
As it falls out based on sampling |
As it falls out based on sampling |
1.6 |
| |
|
|
|
| Employer sector |
|
|
|
| Education |
1.0 |
1.0 |
1.1 |
| Government |
1.0 |
1.0 |
1.3 |
| Business/industry |
As it falls out based on sampling |
As it falls out based on sampling |
0.4 |
| |
|
|
|
| Broad field of highest degree |
|
|
|
| Mathematics and computer sciences |
0.3 |
0.5 |
1.0 |
| Life sciences |
0.3 |
0.5 |
0.8 |
| Physical sciences |
0.3 |
0.5 |
1.0 |
| Social sciences |
0.3 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
| Engineering |
0.3 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
| Non-S&E fields |
— |
— |
0.9 |
| S&E related |
2.5 |
3.5 |
— |
| |
|
|
|
| Broad category of occupation |
|
|
|
| Mathematicians and computer scientists |
1.5 |
2.5 |
1.2 |
| Life scientists |
1.5 |
2.5 |
2.2 |
| Physical scientists |
1.5 |
2.5 |
2.2 |
| Social scientists |
1.5 |
2.5 |
2.4 |
| Engineers |
1.5 |
2.5 |
0.9 |
| Non-S&E occupations |
— |
— |
0.5 |
| S&E managers |
2.0 |
3.0 |
a |
| Other managers |
2.5 |
3.5 |
a |
| Health-related occupations |
1.5 |
2.5 |
1.9b |
| Precollege teachers |
2.5 |
3.5 |
2.1b |
| Non-S&E postsecondary teachers |
2.5 |
3.5 |
5.1b |
| Technicians |
2.0 |
3.0 |
2.9b |
| Other occupations |
3.0 |
4.0 |
— |
|
— = not a design objective.
a This population cannot be specifically identified in current database.
b This CV is limited to the current SESTAT population definition.
SOURCE: National Science Foundation, Division of Science Resources Statistics, staff recommendations 2006.
