lighthouse report errors and facts by oakland county

Over-interpretation and over-generalization are especially common ethical problems. Small increases or decreases in incidence

or prevalence of health conditions occur all too commonly and can be manipulated

for specific purposes.

Error (page 1)

The report used the wrong denominator in several of the tables and did not use actual total population in Oakland County.

FactThe total population of Oakland County, according to the 2010 Census is 1,202,362. It is a statistical standard to use non-estimated Census data.

PEPANNRES Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012

2012 Population Estimates

Geography April 1, 2010 Population Estimate (as of July 1)Census Estimates Base 2010 2011 2012

Oakland County, Michigan 1,202,362 1,202,362 1,203,036 1,211,357 1,220,657

Note: The estimates are based on the 2010 Census and reflect changes to the April 1, 2010 population due to the Count Question Resolution programand geographic program revisions. See Geographic Terms and Definitions at http://www.census.gov/popest/about/geo/terms.html for a list of thestates that are included in each region and division. All geographic boundaries for the 2012 population estimates series are defined as of January 1,2012. An "(X)" in the 2010 Census field indicates a locality that was formed or incorporated after the 2010 Census. Additional information on theselocalities can be found in the Geographic Change Notes (see http://www.census.gov/popest/about/geo/changes.html). For population estimatesmethodology statements, see http://www.census.gov/popest/methodology/index.html.

Suggested Citation:Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population DivisionRelease Dates: For the United States, regions, divisions, states, and Puerto Rico Commonwealth, December 2012. For counties and Puerto Ricomunicipios, March 2013. For Cities and Towns (Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions), May 2013.

1 of 1 04/30/2014

Metropolitan Detroit PovertyGeographic Regions Number in Poverty Total Population Rate per 100,000 population*Detroit 270,900 713,777 37,953Suburban Areas

Wayne County (excluding Detroit) 157,423 1,106,807 14,223

Oakland County 118,896 1,202,362 9,889Macomb County 98,623 840,987 11,727Suburban Total 374,942 3,150,156 11,902

*Data calculated using 2012 ACS 5-year estimates and 2010 Census for total county population

Census data found at the American FactFinder, Poverty Status in the last 12 months, 2012 ACS 5 year estimates4/29/14

S1701 POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS

2008-2012 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Supporting documentation on code lists, subject definitions, data accuracy, and statistical testing can be found on the American Community Surveywebsite in the Data and Documentation section.

Sample size and data quality measures (including coverage rates, allocation rates, and response rates) can be found on the American CommunitySurvey website in the Methodology section.

Although the American Community Survey (ACS) produces population, demographic and housing unit estimates, it is the Census Bureau's PopulationEstimates Program that produces and disseminates the official estimates of the population for the nation, states, counties, cities and towns andestimates of housing units for states and counties.

Subject Oakland County, MichiganTotal Below poverty level Percent below

poverty levelEstimate Margin of Error Estimate Margin of Error Estimate

Population for whom poverty status is determined 1,197,049 +/-928 118,896 +/-3,812 9.9%AGE Under 18 years 278,872 +/-465 37,134 +/-1,817 13.3% Related children under 18 years 277,950 +/-540 36,269 +/-1,805 13.0% 18 to 64 years 760,303 +/-536 71,012 +/-2,351 9.3% 65 years and over 157,874 +/-370 10,750 +/-556 6.8%

SEX Male 581,031 +/-676 53,030 +/-1,837 9.1% Female 616,018 +/-575 65,866 +/-2,501 10.7%

RACE AND HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN One race 1,169,741 +/-1,723 113,700 +/-3,720 9.7% White 929,597 +/-1,202 78,558 +/-3,114 8.5% Black or African American 159,170 +/-1,356 28,788 +/-1,922 18.1% American Indian and Alaska Native 3,438 +/-495 586 +/-258 17.0% Asian 68,938 +/-803 4,294 +/-656 6.2% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 308 +/-140 0 +/-24 0.0% Some other race 8,290 +/-1,027 1,474 +/-594 17.8% Two or more races 27,308 +/-1,594 5,196 +/-796 19.0%

Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) 41,791 +/-182 10,013 +/-1,075 24.0%White alone, not Hispanic or Latino 898,579 +/-690 70,702 +/-2,969 7.9%

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT Population 25 years and over 827,712 +/-513 66,876 +/-2,013 8.1% Less than high school graduate 60,232 +/-1,750 14,476 +/-938 24.0% High school graduate (includes equivalency) 171,292 +/-2,444 20,024 +/-1,144 11.7% Some college, associate's degree 241,092 +/-2,736 20,805 +/-1,022 8.6% Bachelor's degree or higher 355,096 +/-2,937 11,571 +/-870 3.3%

EMPLOYMENT STATUS Civilian labor force 16 years and over 644,841 +/-2,623 44,302 +/-1,832 6.9% Employed 579,100 +/-2,898 27,579 +/-1,258 4.8% Male 301,898 +/-1,940 12,117 +/-853 4.0%

1 of 4 04/28/2014

Error

FactMetropolitan Detroit Poverty

Geographic Regions Number in Poverty Total Population Rate per 100,000 population*Detroit 270,900 713,777 37,953Suburban Areas

Wayne County (excluding Detroit) 157,423 1,106,807 14,223

Oakland County 118,896 1,202,362 9,889

Macomb County 98,623 840,987 11,727Suburban Total 374,942 3,150,156 11,902

*Data calculated using 2012 ACS 5-year estimates and 2010 Census for total county population

0.0

5000.0

10000.0

15000.0

20000.0

25000.0

30000.0

35000.0

40000.0

Detroit Wayne County(excluding Detroit)

Oakland County Macomb County Suburban Total

Rate

per

100

,000

Tri-County Metropolitan Area

Metropolitan Detroit Poverty Rate per 100,000 Population*

Detroit

Wayne County (excluding Detroit)

Oakland County

Macomb County

Suburban Total

Error (page 3)

Provided no narrative expla-nation, leaving the reader to interpret the data.

Did not label the table in-cluding no year of data, no column heading

Did not separate ethnicity from race (Hispanic/Latino), those measures must be compared separately.

FactS1701 POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS

2008-2012 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Supporting documentation on code lists, subject definitions, data accuracy, and statistical testing can be found on the American Community Surveywebsite in the Data and Documentation section.

Sample size and data quality measures (including coverage rates, allocation rates, and response rates) can be found on the American CommunitySurvey website in the Methodology section.

Although the American Community Survey (ACS) produces population, demographic and housing unit estimates, it is the Census Bureau's PopulationEstimates Program that produces and disseminates the official estimates of the population for the nation, states, counties, cities and towns andestimates of housing units for states and counties.

Subject Oakland County, MichiganTotal Below poverty level Percent below

poverty levelEstimate Margin of Error Estimate Margin of Error Estimate

Population for whom poverty status is determined 1,197,049 +/-928 118,896 +/-3,812 9.9%AGE Under 18 years 278,872 +/-465 37,134 +/-1,817 13.3% Related children under 18 years 277,950 +/-540 36,269 +/-1,805 13.0% 18 to 64 years 760,303 +/-536 71,012 +/-2,351 9.3% 65 years and over 157,874 +/-370 10,750 +/-556 6.8%

SEX Male 581,031 +/-676 53,030 +/-1,837 9.1% Female 616,018 +/-575 65,866 +/-2,501 10.7%

RACE AND HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN One race 1,169,741 +/-1,723 113,700 +/-3,720 9.7% White 929,597 +/-1,202 78,558 +/-3,114 8.5% Black or African American 159,170 +/-1,356 28,788 +/-1,922 18.1% American Indian and Alaska Native 3,438 +/-495 586 +/-258 17.0% Asian 68,938 +/-803 4,294 +/-656 6.2% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 308 +/-140 0 +/-24 0.0% Some other race 8,290 +/-1,027 1,474 +/-594 17.8% Two or more races 27,308 +/-1,594 5,196 +/-796 19.0%

Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) 41,791 +/-182 10,013 +/-1,075 24.0%White alone, not Hispanic or Latino 898,579 +/-690 70,702 +/-2,969 7.9%

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT Population 25 years and over 827,712 +/-513 66,876 +/-2,013 8.1% Less than high school graduate 60,232 +/-1,750 14,476 +/-938 24.0% High school graduate (includes equivalency) 171,292 +/-2,444 20,024 +/-1,144 11.7% Some college, associate's degree 241,092 +/-2,736 20,805 +/-1,022 8.6% Bachelor's degree or higher 355,096 +/-2,937 11,571 +/-870 3.3%

EMPLOYMENT STATUS Civilian labor force 16 years and over 644,841 +/-2,623 44,302 +/-1,832 6.9% Employed 579,100 +/-2,898 27,579 +/-1,258 4.8% Male 301,898 +/-1,940 12,117 +/-853 4.0%

1 of 4 04/28/2014

Narrative

Column heading, labels

Race is separate from Hispanic or Latino origin

Error (page 5)

Compared apples to oranges - compared ACS 1-year 2005 data to ACS 5-year 2012 data.

Fact Should have compared ACS 1-year 2005 data to ACS 1-year 2012 data (apples to apples).

Growth in Poverty in Oakland County 2005 vs 2012*

Pontiac Oakland

Year # in Poverty Total PopulationRate per 100,000 # in Poverty

Total Population

Rate per 100,000

2005 13,437 66,340 20,255 78,820 1,194,214 6,600

2012 21,313 59,515 35,811 126,564 1,202,362 10,526

% Change 76.8% -10.3% 59.1% 0.7%

*Data calculated using 2012 and 2005 ACS 1-year estima