Overview

Survey Methods Research

The Office of Survey Methods Research (OSMR) evaluates the effectiveness of the survey methods currently used by BLS programs, investigates alternative methods to determine their appropriateness for BLS programs, and develops new methods for improving the efficiency and quality of BLS programs.

The program is organized into two parts: the Behavioral Science Research Center and the Mathematical Statistics Research Center.

Behavioral Science Research Center

Areas of Study:

Measurement and reduction of non-sampling error

Study Types:

• Questionnaire design studies
• Usability tests of computer systems
• Human-computer interaction
• Knowledge management
• Respondent-interviewer interactions
• Development of response-level data quality measures
• Information seeking and retrieval
• Metadata methods and practice

Mathematical Statistics Research Center

Areas of Study:

Measurement and reduction of sampling and non-sampling error

Study Types:

• Developing more efficient sample designs
• Time series for seasonal adjustment
• Missing data techniques
• Evaluations of alternative estimators
• Model-based estimation

Last Modified Date: July 19, 2008