Professor of Statistics and Associate Dean for Research in Eberly College of Science, Penn State University
Official statistics are measures produced by government or public bodies that provide reliable, objective information for decision-making, policy evaluation, and public knowledge. These measures touch on virtually every aspect of US society, covering the economy, health, security, education, the labor force, crime, and numerous other functions. Data from official statistics is the direct or indirect basis for an enormous number of important decisions.
The Links Lecture Award was created in 2017 in honor of three statisticians whose careers have been critical links in the forward movement of official statistics: Constance Citro; Robert Groves; and Fritz Scheuren. Collectively, these three individuals foundationally changed the understanding of and approach to producing timely, relevant, and accurate official statistics.
The award will be given to the nominee whose work follows in their footsteps. The honoree will deliver a virtual lecture in the year after the award is given and receive a modest honorarium.
Connie Citro is a political scientist and statistician, recognized for her rare ability to understand and convey the challenges in providing accurate official statistics for use in policy decisions and her commitment to aiding these efforts. Currently, she is a senior scholar with the Committee on National Statistics of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, previously serving as CNSTAT director (2004–2017) and senior study director (1986–2003).
At CNSTAT, she directed evaluations of numerous federal censuses and surveys, focusing on methodology for the decennial census and the measurement of poverty, income, and program participation. These evaluations resulted in innovative changes in federal statistics. One example is the research panel that produced Measuring Poverty: A New Approach, which led to the Supplemental Poverty Measure. She co-edited several flagship publications on official statistics, including Principles and Practices for a Federal Statistical Agency (2nd-7th editions) and the Encyclopedia of the US Census (1st-2nd editions).
Citro is a vocal champion of modernization in the production of official statistics, providing compelling evidence for blending data from multiple data sources to provide official measures, instead of relying on a single survey.
Bob Groves is a sociologist and survey methodology scholar, acknowledged for defining intellectually and establishing the scientific and academic field of survey methodology. He is serving as interim president of Georgetown University, previously serving as executive vice president and provost of Georgetown University (2012–2024). He is a former director of the US Census Bureau (2009–2012). He was one of the founders of the Joint Program in Survey Methodology at the University of Maryland and the Graduate Program in Survey Methodology at the University of Michigan.
Groves’s research has focused on the impact of mode of data collection on responses in sample surveys, the social and political influences on survey participation, the use of adaptive research designs to improve the cost and error properties of statistics, and public concerns about privacy affecting attitudes toward statistical agencies. He has authored or co-authored seven books and scores of peer-reviewed articles, including the two foundational textbooks Survey Methodology (2nd edition) and Survey Errors and Survey Costs.
Groves is an advocate for understanding the impact of social cognitive and behavioral influences on the quality of statistical information and for measuring and remediating nonsampling errors in statistical products.
Fritz Scheuren is a statistician, renowned for his extensive contributions to the statistics field—particularly his work on the development of record linkage and administrative records—and his focus on human rights. His professional career included pivotal roles at the Office of Economic Opportunity, Social Security Administration, IRS Statistics of Income Division, and NORC at the University of Chicago.
At NORC, Scheuren was involved in landmark projects such as resolving issues with Indian Trust Fund accounts at the US Department of the Interior. During his time as SOI director, he helped establish a relationship with the Federal Reserve to provide key information needed to establish the Survey of Consumer Finances. As visiting professor at The George Washington University, he established the survey sampling certificate program. He has co-authored the seminal textbook Data Quality and Record Linkage Techniques and more than 500 peer-reviewed articles.
Besides his notable contributions to advancing the scientific applications and academic field of survey statistics, Scheuren was awarded for his superior mentoring, tireless encouragement, and positive influence on generations of statisticians and nonstatisticians alike.
The award will be given to the nominee whose work, in the judgment of the award committee, has most contributed to the advancement of official statistics and whose vision offers the best hope for further advancement. Possible topics include the following:
Nominations are due by March 1 and require the following:
In no more than two pages, the nomination and supporting letters should address the following points:
Self-nominations are welcome. Nominations not selected are considered for up to three years.
The award recipient will present a virtual lecture about their work and vision for the future of official statistics at a mutually agreed-upon time. The award recipient is responsible for providing a current photograph and general personal information the year the award is presented. The American Statistical Association uses this information to publicize the award.
Please contact the committee chair.
2024: Sallie Keller 2022: Jerome Reiter 2021: Lisa Mirel 2020: Daniel Goroff 2019: Bruce Meyer 2018: Frauke Kreuter