Stratified Cluster Sampling Under Multiplicative Model for Quantitative Sensitive Question Survey

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Stratified Cluster Sampling Under Multiplicative Model for Quantitative Sensitive Question Survey STRATIFIED CLUSTER SAMPLING UNDER MULTIPLICATIVE MODEL FOR QUANTITATIVE SENSITIVE QUESTION SURVEY Pu Xiangke, Gao Ge, Fan Yubo and Wang Mian SUMMARY Advanced sampling methods and corresponding formulas are total probability formulas. The performance of the sampling seldom applied to quantitative sensitive question survey. This methods and formulas in survey of cheating on exams on Dus- paper develops a series of formulas for parameter estimation hu Lake Campus of Soochow University, China, are provided. in cluster sampling and stratified cluster sampling under mul- The reliability of the survey methods and formulas for quanti- tiplicative model on the basis of classic sampling theories and tative sensitive question survey is found to be high. Introduction sponse error, randomized re- sitive question survey. However, more, formulas for simple ran- sponse models have been devel- this method is vulnerable to dom sampling may also be So-called sensitive questions oped for collecting sensitive sampling error because the ran- wrongly used when a relatively are some private issues such as information after the pioneering domness of the selection may complicated sampling procedure acquired immune deficiency work of Warner (1965). The result in a sample that doesn’t is conducted in sensitive ques- syndrome (AIDS), drug addic- multiplicative model was de- reflect the makeup of the popu- tion survey and evaluation of tion, gambling, prostitution, signed for quantitative sensitive lation and it is cumbersome reliability of sampling methods driving while intoxicated, per- question survey, with advan- when sampling from a large and corresponding formulas sonal income, tax evasion, pre- tages of simple design, small target population. Stratified under randomized response marital sex, venereal diseases, sample size and small sampling sampling is superior to simple models for sensitive question homosexual tendencies, and so error (Wang, 2003; Raghunath random sampling in reducing survey has seldom been set. on. It is difficult to get honest and Georg, 2006). sampling error and cluster sam- In this paper, designs for answers by asking direct ques- Simple random sampling has pling is less costly, but these cluster sampling and stratified tions on sensitive issues in sur- been considered a useful sam- methods are not so popular be- cluster sampling under multipli- vey research (Tourangeau and pling method under multiplica- cause they are not too simple cative model and corresponding Yan, 2007). To reduce the re- tive model for quantitative sen- (Ding and Gao, 2008). Further- formulas for parameter estima- KEYWORDS / Multiplicative Model / Parameter Estimation / Quantitative Sensitive Question / Stratified Cluster Sampling / Received: 09/01/2010. Modified: 09/05/2011. Accepted: 09/07/2011. Pu Xiangke. Ph.D. candidate in Gao Ge. M.Sc. in Biostatistics, P.R.China. e-mail: gaoge@ Wang Mian. M.Sc. in Epidemiol- Epidemiology and Health Sta- Soochow University, China. suda.edu.cn ogy and Health Statistics. So- tistics, Soochow University, Professor, Soochow University, Fan Yubo. Ph.D. candidate in ochow University, China. China. Technologist-in-charge, China. Address: Department of Epidemiology and Health Sta- Institute of Hepatology, Third Health Statistics, School of tistics. Soochow University, People’s Hospital, Changzhou, Radiation Medicine and Public China. China. e-mail: [email protected] Health, Suzhou, 215123, NOV 2012, VOL. 37 Nº 11 0378-1844/12/11/833-05 $ 3.00/0 833 MUESTREO POR CONGLOMERADOS ESTRATIFICADOS BAJO UN MODELO MULTIPLICATIVO PARA PREGUNTAS SENSIBLES EN ENCUESTAS CUANTITATIVAS Pu Xiangke, Gao Ge, Fan Yubo y Wang Mian RESUMEN Los métodos de muestreo avanzados y las correspondientes total. Se ilustra el desempeño de los métodos de muestreo y fórmulas son raramente aplicados en preguntas sensibles de las fórmulas en una encuesta de engaños en exámenes en el encuestas cuantitativas. Este trabajo desarrolla una serie de Campus Dushu Lake de la Universidad de Soochow, China. La fórmulas para parámetros de estimación en muestreo de con- confiabilidad de los métodos de encuesta y las fórmulas para glomerados estratificados bajo un modelo multiplicativo basa- encuestas cuantitativas de preguntas sensibles resulta ser alta. das en teorías clásicas de muestreo y fórmulas de probabilidad AMOSTRAGEM ESTRATIFICADA POR CONGLOMERADOS SOB UM MODELO MULTIPLICATIVO PARA PERGUNTAS SENSÍVEIS EM PESQUISAS QUANTITATIVAS Pu Xiangke, Gao Ge, Fan Yubo e Wang Mian RESUMO Os métodos avançados de amostragem e as corresponden- probabilidade total. Ilustra-se o desempenho dos métodos de tes fórmulas são raramente aplicados em perguntas sensíveis amostragem e as fórmulas em uma pesquisa de enganos em de pesquisas quantitativas. Este trabalho desenvolve uma sé- exames no Campus Dushu Lake da Universidade de Soochow, rie de fórmulas para estimação de parâmetros em amostragem China. A confiabilidade dos métodos de pesquisa e as fórmulas de conglomerados estratificados sob um modelo multiplicativo para pesquisas de perguntas sensitivas quantitativas resultam baseadas em teorias clássicas de amostragem e fórmulas de ser alta. tion are provided. These com- eral clusters (primary units), the ith cluster contains Mi of the subunits in each clus- plex sampling methods have and each cluster is composed subunits. Then, n clusters are ter, and been employed in survey of of secondary units. Some drawn randomly from the cheating on Dushu Lake Cam- clusters are randomly selected population. is the sampling ratio. pus of Soochow University, from the population. Then, Estimation of the population China, and may be applicable the multiplicative model mean and its variance for to a large population. (above) is applied to all the quantitative sensitive question When Mi=M, secondary units of selected survey. Suppose the mean of Methods for Quantitative clusters for the quantitative the response values in the ith Sensitive Question Survey sensitive question survey. (4) cluster is µi, yi denotes the sum of values in the ith clus- Multiplicative model Stratified cluster sampling ter and the population mean is where f=nM / NM=n/N is the under the multiplicative µ. By Cochran (1977) and sampling ratio. In the multiplicative model model Wang and Gao (2006) the es- (Wang, 2003), a randomized timator of the population Calculation of µi and yi. Sup- device is designed to ran- Before cluster sampling, mean can be stated as pose µi denotes the mean of domly generate an integer the population is divided variables with sensitive charac- between 0 and 9. In the de- into different strata by char- ter in the ith cluster, µiz de- vice, ten balls of identical acters. Then, cluster sam- notes the mean of numerical size are respectively labeled pling is applied to each stra- values of the answers in the by the ten integers. By a ran- tum. In each stratum, differ- (1) ith cluster, and µy denotes the domization process, each re- ent clusters (primary units) and when Mi=M, mean of all the random num- spondent takes a ball labeled are also composed of sec- bers in the randomized device. by an integer and multiplies ondary units. And then, the Then, from characteristics of the integer by the numerical multiplicative model is em- means (Wang et al., 2006), value of his response to the ployed to those secondary (2) µ = µ µ , i= 1,2,...,n (5) quantitative sensitive question units of selected clusters for Also following Cochran iz i y so as to get a final result. the quantitative sensitive (1977), the estimator of the vari- µ = µ /µ , i= 1,2,...,n (6) question survey. ance of can be obtained as i iz y Cluster sampling under the multiplicative model on Deduction of Formulas and yi = Miµi, i= 1,2,...,n quantitative sensitive questions Formulas for cluster Formulas for stratified sampling cluster sampling It is convenient to use a (3) cluster sampling method. The Suppose the population is where is the mean Suppose the population is population is divided into sev- divided into N clusters, and composed of L strata, and 834 NOV 2012, VOL. 37 Nº 11 the hth stratum contains Nh tum according to the number Table I clusters (primary units), and of subunits. The mean of times of cheating of students the ith cluster contains Mih As samples of each stratum in 38 classes in last two semesters secondary units. The popula- are independent, from Eq. 11, by twice repeated stratified cluster tion contains N secondary its variance is sampling under multiplicative model units and nh clusters are ran- domly drawn from the hth (12) Serial Serial stratum. numbers of numbers According to Eqs. 8 and undergraduate µi1 µ'i1 of graduate µi2 µ'i2 Estimation of the population 10, the estimator of V( ) classes classes mean and its variance of the is v( ). And from Eq. 12, 1 0.8085 0.9787 1 1.3990 1.3788 hth stratum. From Eq. 1, the v( ) will be the estimator of 2 1.9222 1.7333 2 2.3308 2.6925 estimator of the population V( ). 3 1.2278 1.4722 3 2.3457 2.2370 mean (µh) of the hth stratum 4 1.5934 1.5177 4 0.8322 1.1111 can be obtained as Calculation of µih and yih 5 1.0505 0.9748 5 0.9660 0.9669 6 0.6333 0.4858 6 0.8133 0.9622 Let µih denote the mean of 7 1.1358 0.9926 7 0.9235 0.8889 h= 1,2,…, L variables with sensitive char- 8 1.0922 1.0118 8 0.7488 0.9220 (7) acter in the ith cluster of the 9 0.9827 0.8494 9 0.5383 0.5333 10 1.0431 1.1066 10 0.8009 0.7824 hth stratum, µiz denote the and from Eq. 3, we can get average value of all the an- 11 1.1376 1.4233 11 0.7565 0.7488 the estimator of the variance swers in the ith cluster of 12 0.7727 0.6010 12 0.7546 0.7593 of : the hth stratum, and µ be 13 1.2691 1.1012 13 0.7565 0.7234 y 14 0.8636 0.8232 14 0.4921 0.4815 15 0.9082 0.9034 15 0.9975 0.9728 16 1.0000 0.8485 16 0.8931 0.8637 17 0.1401 0.0821 17 0.7677 0.6717 18 0.9312 0.9206 18 0.9333 0.8404 where is the 19 0.8360 0.7196 the average value of all the 20 0.4840 0.5284 random numbers in the ran- mean of subunits of each domized device.
Recommended publications
  • Choosing the Sample
    CHAPTER IV CHOOSING THE SAMPLE This chapter is written for survey coordinators and technical resource persons. It will enable you to: U Understand the basic concepts of sampling. U Calculate the required sample size for national and subnational estimates. U Determine the number of clusters to be used. U Choose a sampling scheme. UNDERSTANDING THE BASIC CONCEPTS OF SAMPLING In the context of multiple-indicator surveys, sampling is a process for selecting respondents from a population. In our case, the respondents will usually be the mothers, or caretakers, of children in each household visited,1 who will answer all of the questions in the Child Health modules. The Water and Sanitation and Salt Iodization modules refer to the whole household and may be answered by any adult. Questions in these modules are asked even where there are no children under the age of 15 years. In principle, our survey could cover all households in the population. If all mothers being interviewed could provide perfect answers, we could measure all indicators with complete accuracy. However, interviewing all mothers would be time-consuming, expensive and wasteful. It is therefore necessary to interview a sample of these women to obtain estimates of the actual indicators. The difference between the estimate and the actual indicator is called sampling error. Sampling errors are caused by the fact that a sample&and not the entire population&is surveyed. Sampling error can be minimized by taking certain precautions: 3 Choose your sample of respondents in an unbiased way. 3 Select a large enough sample for your estimates to be precise.
    [Show full text]
  • Computing Effect Sizes for Clustered Randomized Trials
    Computing Effect Sizes for Clustered Randomized Trials Terri Pigott, C2 Methods Editor & Co-Chair Professor, Loyola University Chicago [email protected] The Campbell Collaboration www.campbellcollaboration.org Computing effect sizes in clustered trials • In an experimental study, we are interested in the difference in performance between the treatment and control group • In this case, we use the standardized mean difference, given by YYTC− d = gg Control group sp mean Treatment group mean Pooled sample standard deviation Campbell Collaboration Colloquium – August 2011 www.campbellcollaboration.org 1 Variance of the standardized mean difference NNTC+ d2 Sd2 ()=+ NNTC2( N T+ N C ) where NT is the sample size for the treatment group, and NC is the sample size for the control group Campbell Collaboration Colloquium – August 2011 www.campbellcollaboration.org TREATMENT GROUP CONTROL GROUP TT T CC C YY,,..., Y YY12,,..., YC 12 NT N Overall Trt Mean Overall Cntl Mean T Y C Yg g S 2 2 Trt SCntl 2 S pooled Campbell Collaboration Colloquium – August 2011 www.campbellcollaboration.org 2 In cluster randomized trials, SMD more complex • In cluster randomized trials, we have clusters such as schools or clinics randomized to treatment and control • We have at least two means: mean performance for each cluster, and the overall group mean • We also have several components of variance – the within- cluster variance, the variance between cluster means, and the total variance • Next slide is an illustration Campbell Collaboration Colloquium – August 2011 www.campbellcollaboration.org TREATMENT GROUP CONTROL GROUP Cntl Cluster mC Trt Cluster 1 Trt Cluster mT Cntl Cluster 1 TT T T CC C C YY,...ggg Y ,..., Y YY11,..
    [Show full text]
  • Evaluating Probability Sampling Strategies for Estimating Redd Counts: an Example with Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha)
    1814 Evaluating probability sampling strategies for estimating redd counts: an example with Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Jean-Yves Courbois, Stephen L. Katz, Daniel J. Isaak, E. Ashley Steel, Russell F. Thurow, A. Michelle Wargo Rub, Tony Olsen, and Chris E. Jordan Abstract: Precise, unbiased estimates of population size are an essential tool for fisheries management. For a wide variety of salmonid fishes, redd counts from a sample of reaches are commonly used to monitor annual trends in abundance. Using a 9-year time series of georeferenced censuses of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) redds from central Idaho, USA, we evaluated a wide range of common sampling strategies for estimating the total abundance of redds. We evaluated two sampling-unit sizes (200 and 1000 m reaches), three sample proportions (0.05, 0.10, and 0.29), and six sampling strat- egies (index sampling, simple random sampling, systematic sampling, stratified sampling, adaptive cluster sampling, and a spatially balanced design). We evaluated the strategies based on their accuracy (confidence interval coverage), precision (relative standard error), and cost (based on travel time). Accuracy increased with increasing number of redds, increasing sample size, and smaller sampling units. The total number of redds in the watershed and budgetary constraints influenced which strategies were most precise and effective. For years with very few redds (<0.15 reddsÁkm–1), a stratified sampling strategy and inexpensive strategies were most efficient, whereas for years with more redds (0.15–2.9 reddsÁkm–1), either of two more expensive systematic strategies were most precise. Re´sume´ : La gestion des peˆches requiert comme outils essentiels des estimations pre´cises et non fausse´es de la taille des populations.
    [Show full text]
  • Cluster Sampling
    Day 5 sampling - clustering SAMPLE POPULATION SAMPLING: IS ESTIMATING THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WHOLE POPULATION USING INFORMATION COLLECTED FROM A SAMPLE GROUP. The sampling process comprises several stages: •Defining the population of concern •Specifying a sampling frame, a set of items or events possible to measure •Specifying a sampling method for selecting items or events from the frame •Determining the sample size •Implementing the sampling plan •Sampling and data collecting 2 Simple random sampling 3 In a simple random sample (SRS) of a given size, all such subsets of the frame are given an equal probability. In particular, the variance between individual results within the sample is a good indicator of variance in the overall population, which makes it relatively easy to estimate the accuracy of results. SRS can be vulnerable to sampling error because the randomness of the selection may result in a sample that doesn't reflect the makeup of the population. Systematic sampling 4 Systematic sampling (also known as interval sampling) relies on arranging the study population according to some ordering scheme and then selecting elements at regular intervals through that ordered list Systematic sampling involves a random start and then proceeds with the selection of every kth element from then onwards. In this case, k=(population size/sample size). It is important that the starting point is not automatically the first in the list, but is instead randomly chosen from within the first to the kth element in the list. STRATIFIED SAMPLING 5 WHEN THE POPULATION EMBRACES A NUMBER OF DISTINCT CATEGORIES, THE FRAME CAN BE ORGANIZED BY THESE CATEGORIES INTO SEPARATE "STRATA." EACH STRATUM IS THEN SAMPLED AS AN INDEPENDENT SUB-POPULATION, OUT OF WHICH INDIVIDUAL ELEMENTS CAN BE RANDOMLY SELECTED Cluster sampling Sometimes it is more cost-effective to select respondents in groups ('clusters') Quota sampling Minimax sampling Accidental sampling Voluntary Sampling ….
    [Show full text]
  • Introduction to Survey Sampling and Analysis Procedures (Chapter)
    SAS/STAT® 9.3 User’s Guide Introduction to Survey Sampling and Analysis Procedures (Chapter) SAS® Documentation This document is an individual chapter from SAS/STAT® 9.3 User’s Guide. The correct bibliographic citation for the complete manual is as follows: SAS Institute Inc. 2011. SAS/STAT® 9.3 User’s Guide. Cary, NC: SAS Institute Inc. Copyright © 2011, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA All rights reserved. Produced in the United States of America. For a Web download or e-book: Your use of this publication shall be governed by the terms established by the vendor at the time you acquire this publication. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of others’ rights is appreciated. U.S. Government Restricted Rights Notice: Use, duplication, or disclosure of this software and related documentation by the U.S. government is subject to the Agreement with SAS Institute and the restrictions set forth in FAR 52.227-19, Commercial Computer Software-Restricted Rights (June 1987). SAS Institute Inc., SAS Campus Drive, Cary, North Carolina 27513. 1st electronic book, July 2011 SAS® Publishing provides a complete selection of books and electronic products to help customers use SAS software to its fullest potential. For more information about our e-books, e-learning products, CDs, and hard-copy books, visit the SAS Publishing Web site at support.sas.com/publishing or call 1-800-727-3228.
    [Show full text]
  • Sampling and Household Listing Manual [DHSM4]
    SAMPLING AND HOUSEHOLD LISTING MANuaL Demographic and Health Surveys Methodology This document is part of the Demographic and Health Survey’s DHS Toolkit of methodology for the MEASURE DHS Phase III project, implemented from 2008-2013. This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It was prepared by MEASURE DHS/ICF International. [THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY BLANK] Demographic and Health Survey Sampling and Household Listing Manual ICF International Calverton, Maryland USA September 2012 MEASURE DHS is a five-year project to assist institutions in collecting and analyzing data needed to plan, monitor, and evaluate population, health, and nutrition programs. MEASURE DHS is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The project is implemented by ICF International in Calverton, Maryland, in partnership with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health/Center for Communication Programs, the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), Futures Institute, Camris International, and Blue Raster. The main objectives of the MEASURE DHS program are to: 1) provide improved information through appropriate data collection, analysis, and evaluation; 2) improve coordination and partnerships in data collection at the international and country levels; 3) increase host-country institutionalization of data collection capacity; 4) improve data collection and analysis tools and methodologies; and 5) improve the dissemination and utilization of data. For information about the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) program, write to DHS, ICF International, 11785 Beltsville Drive, Suite 300, Calverton, MD 20705, U.S.A. (Telephone: 301-572- 0200; fax: 301-572-0999; e-mail: [email protected]; Internet: http://www.measuredhs.com).
    [Show full text]
  • Taylor's Power Law and Fixed-Precision Sampling
    87 ARTICLE Taylor’s power law and fixed-precision sampling: application to abundance of fish sampled by gillnets in an African lake Meng Xu, Jeppe Kolding, and Joel E. Cohen Abstract: Taylor’s power law (TPL) describes the variance of population abundance as a power-law function of the mean abundance for a single or a group of species. Using consistently sampled long-term (1958–2001) multimesh capture data of Lake Kariba in Africa, we showed that TPL robustly described the relationship between the temporal mean and the temporal variance of the captured fish assemblage abundance (regardless of species), separately when abundance was measured by numbers of individuals and by aggregate weight. The strong correlation between the mean of abundance and the variance of abundance was not altered after adding other abiotic or biotic variables into the TPL model. We analytically connected the parameters of TPL when abundance was measured separately by the aggregate weight and by the aggregate number, using a weight–number scaling relationship. We utilized TPL to find the number of samples required for fixed-precision sampling and compared the number of samples when sampling was performed with a single gillnet mesh size and with multiple mesh sizes. These results facilitate optimizing the sampling design to estimate fish assemblage abundance with specified precision, as needed in stock management and conservation. Résumé : La loi de puissance de Taylor (LPT) décrit la variance de l’abondance d’une population comme étant une fonction de puissance de l’abondance moyenne pour une espèce ou un groupe d’espèces. En utilisant des données de capture sur une longue période (1958–2001) obtenues de manière cohérente avec des filets de mailles variées dans le lac Kariba en Afrique, nous avons démontré que la LPT décrit de manière robuste la relation entre la moyenne temporelle et la variance temporelle de l’abondance de l’assemblage de poissons capturés (peu importe l’espèce), que l’abondance soit mesurée sur la base du nombre d’individus ou de la masse cumulative.
    [Show full text]
  • METHOD GUIDE 3 Survey Sampling and Administration
    METHOD GUIDE 3 Survey sampling and administration Alexandre Barbosa, Marcelo Pitta, Fabio Senne and Maria Eugênia Sózio Regional Center for Studies on the Development of the Information Society (Cetic.br), Brazil November 2016 1 Table of Contents Global Kids Online ......................................................................................................................... 3 Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... 4 Key issues ...................................................................................................................................... 5 Main approaches and identifying good practice ......................................................................... 7 Survey frame and sources of information .................................................................................................................... 8 Methods of data collection ................................................................................................................................................ 8 Choosing an appropriate method of data collection.......................................................................................................... 9 Sampling plan.................................................................................................................................................................. 11 Target population .......................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Use of Sampling in the Census Technical Session 5.2
    Regional Workshop on the Operational Guidelines of the WCA 2020 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 23-27 March 2020 Use of sampling in the census Technical Session 5.2 Eloi OUEDRAOGO Statistician, Agricultural Census Team FAO Statistics Division (ESS) 1 CONTENTS Complete enumeration censuses versus sample-based censuses Uses of sampling at other census stages Sample designs based on list frames Sample designs based on area frames Sample designs based on multiple frames Choice of sample design Country examples 2 Background As mentioned in the WCA 2020, Vol. 1 (Chapter 4, paragraph 4.34), when deciding whether to conduct a census by complete or sample enumeration, in addition to efficiency considerations (precision versus costs), one should take into account: desired level of aggregation for census data; use of the census as a frame for ongoing sampling surveys; data content of the census; and capacity to deal with sampling methods and subsequent statistical analysis based on samples. 3 Complete enumeration versus sample enumeration census Complete enumeration Sample enumeration Advantages 1. Reliable census results for the 1. Is generally less costly that a smallest administrative and complete enumeration geographic units and on rare events 2. Contributes to decrease the overall (such as crops/livestock types) response burden 2. Provides a reliable frame for the organization of subsequent regular 3. Requires a smaller number of infra-annual and annual sample enumerators and supervisors than a surveys. In terms of frames, it is census conducted by complete much less demanding in respect of enumeration. Consequently, the the holdings’ characteristics non-sampling errors can be 3.
    [Show full text]
  • How Big of a Problem Is Analytic Error in Secondary Analyses of Survey Data?
    RESEARCH ARTICLE How Big of a Problem is Analytic Error in Secondary Analyses of Survey Data? Brady T. West1*, Joseph W. Sakshaug2,3, Guy Alain S. Aurelien4 1 Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America, 2 Cathie Marsh Institute for Social Research, University of Manchester, Manchester, England, 3 Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany, 4 Joint Program in Survey Methodology, University of Maryland-College Park, College Park, Maryland, United States of America * [email protected] Abstract a11111 Secondary analyses of survey data collected from large probability samples of persons or establishments further scientific progress in many fields. The complex design features of these samples improve data collection efficiency, but also require analysts to account for these features when conducting analysis. Unfortunately, many secondary analysts from fields outside of statistics, biostatistics, and survey methodology do not have adequate OPEN ACCESS training in this area, and as a result may apply incorrect statistical methods when analyzing these survey data sets. This in turn could lead to the publication of incorrect inferences Citation: West BT, Sakshaug JW, Aurelien GAS (2016) How Big of a Problem is Analytic Error in based on the survey data that effectively negate the resources dedicated to these surveys. Secondary Analyses of Survey Data? PLoS ONE 11 In this article, we build on the results of a preliminary meta-analysis of 100 peer-reviewed (6): e0158120. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0158120 journal articles presenting analyses of data from a variety of national health surveys, which Editor: Lourens J Waldorp, University of Amsterdam, suggested that analytic errors may be extremely prevalent in these types of investigations.
    [Show full text]
  • Guidelines for Evaluating Prevalence Studies
    Evid Based Mental Health: first published as 10.1136/ebmh.1.2.37 on 1 May 1998. Downloaded from EBMH NOTEBOOK Guidelines for evaluating prevalence studies As stated in the first issue of Evidence-Based Mental Health, we are planning to widen the scope of the journal to include studies answering additional types of clinical questions. One of our first priorities has been to develop criteria for studies providing information about the prevalence of psychiatric disorders, both in the population and in specific clinical settings. We invited the following editorial from Dr Michael Boyle to highlight the key methodological issues involved in the critical appraisal of prevalence studies. The next stage is to develop valid and reliable criteria for selecting prevalence studies for inclusion in the jour- nal. We welcome our readers contribution to this process. You are a geriatric psychiatrist providing consultation and lation must be defined by shared characteristics assessed and care to elderly residents living in several nursing homes. measured accurately. Some of these characteristics include The previous 3 patients referred to you have met criteria age, sex, language, ethnicity, income, and residency. Invari- for depression, and you are beginning to wonder if the ably, subsets of the target population are too expensive or prevalence of this disorder is high enough to warrant screen- difficult to enlist because, for example, they live in places that ing. Alternatively, you are a child youth worker on a clinical are inaccessible to surveys (eg, remote areas, native reserves, service for disruptive behaviour disorders. It seems that all of military bases, shelters) or they speak languages not accom- the children being treated by the team come from economi- modated by data collection.
    [Show full text]
  • Accounting for Cluster Sampling in Constructing Enumerative Sequential Sampling Plans
    SAMPLING AND BIOSTATISTICS Accounting for Cluster Sampling in Constructing Enumerative Sequential Sampling Plans 1 2 A. J. HAMILTON AND G. HEPWORTH J. Econ. Entomol. 97(3): 1132Ð1136(2004) ABSTRACT GreenÕs sequential sampling plan is widely used in applied entomology. GreenÕs equa- tion can be used to construct sampling stop charts, and a crop can then be surveyed using a simple random sampling (SRS) approach. In practice, however, crops are rarely surveyed according to SRS. Rather, some type of hierarchical design is usually used, such as cluster sampling, where sampling units form distinct groups. This article explains how to make adjustments to sampling plans that intend to use cluster sampling, a commonly used hierarchical design, rather than SRS. The methodologies are illustrated using diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), a pest of Brassica crops, as an example. Downloaded from KEY WORDS cluster sampling, design effect, enumerative sampling, Plutella xylostella, sequential sampling http://jee.oxfordjournals.org/ WHEN CONSIDERING THE DISTRIBUTION of individuals in a it is more practicable to implement. Therefore, the population, the relationship between the population sampling design needs to be taken into account when variance and mean typically obeys a power law (Tay- constructing a sequential sampling plan. Most pub- lor 1961). According to TaylorÕs Power Law (TPL), lished enumerative plans do not do this, and thus the variance-mean relation can be described by the implicitly assume that the Þeld will be sampled ac- following equation: cording to SRS (e.g., Allsopp et al. 1992, Smith and Hepworth 1992, Cho et al. 1995). 2 ϭ ៮b s ax [1] In this article, we show how to account for cluster where s2 and x៮ are the sample variance and sample sampling (Fig.
    [Show full text]