Detroit Metro Area Communities Study (DMACS) Wave 20, Michigan, 2024 (ICPSR 39501)
Version Date: Feb 17, 2026 View help for published
Principal Investigator(s): View help for Principal Investigator(s)
Elisabeth Gerber, University of Michigan;
Jeffrey Morenoff, University of Michigan;
Mara Ostfeld, University of Michigan
Series:
https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR39501.v1
Version V1
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Summary View help for Summary
The Detroit Metro Area Communities Study (DMACS) is a panel survey of Detroit residents aged 18 and older. The original panel of respondents was drawn from an address-based probability sample of all occupied Detroit households in 2016 and has since been refreshed through additional address-based sampling annually. Between June 18, 2024 and August 19, 2024, we invited 3,012 previously enrolled panelists 4,000 invitations to a randomly selected address-based refreshment sample of Detroit households to participate in a self-administered online or interviewer-administered telephone survey.
Topics include: housing status; perceptions of neighborhood; neighborhood blight; social connection; election; crime and safety; municipal services; mental health; employment.
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Subject Terms View help for Subject Terms
Geographic Coverage View help for Geographic Coverage
Smallest Geographic Unit View help for Smallest Geographic Unit
Census Tract
Restrictions View help for Restrictions
This data collection may not be used for any purpose other than statistical reporting and analysis. Use of these data to learn the identity of any person or establishment is prohibited. To protect respondent privacy, some of the data files in this collection are restricted from general dissemination. To obtain these restricted files researchers must agree to the terms and conditions of a Restricted Data Use Agreement.
Distributor(s) View help for Distributor(s)
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Date of Collection View help for Date of Collection
Data Collection Notes View help for Data Collection Notes
- For more information on the Detroit Metro Area Communities Study, please visit the DMACS website.
Study Purpose View help for Study Purpose
The Detroit Metro Area Communities Study (DMACS) is a University of Michigan initiative designed to regularly survey a broad, representative group of Detroit residents about their communities, including their expectations, perceptions, priorities, and aspirations. Since 2016, the DMACS survey has provided valuable insights on the perceptions and attitudes of Detroit residents.
Study Design View help for Study Design
Surveys were self-administered online or were interviewer-administered via telephone. All respondents who completed the survey received a post-paid incentive, mailed from the University of Michigan. The data collection period for this survey was June 18, 2024 to August 19, 2024.
The questionnaire was developed by the DMACS team. The instrument was programmed and tested by DMACS staff members on mobile and desktop devices to detect issues with question language and ensure the accuracy of skip-pattern logic, randomizations, and other programming issues. The questionnaire was programmed in Qualtrics by DMACS staff and translated into Spanish by CETRA Language Solutions. Respondents were able to select between taking the survey in English or Spanish on the first screen of the survey.
Sample View help for Sample
The target population for the survey were Detroiters ages 18 and older. Wave 20 is based on a stratified random sample. Researchers invited 3,012 previously enrolled panelists who had provided their contact information and given the study team permission to text them and sent 4,000 invitations to a randomly selected address-based refreshment sample of Detroit households to participate in a self administered online or interviewer-administered telephone survey. A total of 2,450 Detroit residents completed the survey.
Time Method View help for Time Method
Universe View help for Universe
Adults over the age of 18 who reside in the City of Detroit.
Unit(s) of Observation View help for Unit(s) of Observation
Data Type(s) View help for Data Type(s)
Mode of Data Collection View help for Mode of Data Collection
Response Rates View help for Response Rates
A total of 2,450 Detroit residents completed the survey, yielding an overall response rate of 36.7% (using AAPOR Response Rate 1). Additionally, the previously enrolled panelists had a response rate of 69.8%, and the newly recruited panelists had a response rate of 10.0% (using AAPOR Response Rate 1).
HideOriginal Release Date View help for Original Release Date
2026-02-17
Version History View help for Version History
2026-02-17 ICPSR data undergo a confidentiality review and are altered when necessary to limit the risk of disclosure. ICPSR also routinely creates ready-to-go data files along with setups in the major statistical software formats as well as standard codebooks to accompany the data. In addition to these procedures, ICPSR performed the following processing steps for this data collection:
- Performed recodes and/or calculated derived variables.
Weight View help for Weight
The DMACS Wave 20 data were weighted to reflect the demographics of the City of Detroit. This data includes a weighting variable, WEIGHTS, which should be used when conducting analysis. For more weighting information, please see the P.I. Panel and Methodology documents.
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These data are freely available to data users at ICPSR member institutions. The curation and dissemination of this study are provided by the institutional members of ICPSR. How do I access ICPSR data if I am not at a member institution?
One or more files in this data collection have special restrictions. Restricted data files are not available for direct download from the website; click on the Restricted Data button to learn more.